Rule 6-25.4 - RECERTIFICATIONRecertification shall be pursuant to the following standards:
(a) Substantial Involvement. The applicant must demonstrate substantial involvement in state and federal government and administrative practice throughout the period since the last date of certification or recertification by acting as lead advocate on behalf of a private client or a government entity in state and federal government and administrative practice since certification or the last recertification, totaling at least 10 points as described in the substantial involvement requirement in the minimum standards for initial certification. Service as an administrative law judge; agency general counsel or other senior government attorney with supervisory responsibilities; or representation of or membership on a committee working on substantial matters of state and federal government and administrative practice; substitutes for the 10-point requirement above.(b) Education. The applicant must complete 90 hours of continuing legal education in state and federal government and administrative practice since the last application for certification or recertification. Successful passage of the examination given to initial certification applicants satisfies the continuing legal education requirements if the applicant has attained more than 60 hours of continuing legal education. The applicant seeking recertification may also reduce the educational requirements in this subsection to 60 hours by demonstrating involvement as the lead advocate on behalf of a private client or a government entity in state and federal government and administrative practice since certification or the last recertification, totaling at least 25 points as described in the substantial involvement requirement in the minimum standards for initial certification.(c) Peer Review. The applicant must submit the names and addresses of 3 individuals, at least 2 of whom are lawyers and 1 of whom is a federal, state, or administrative law judge before whom the applicant has appeared within the past 5 years preceding the application to complete peer review forms. Individuals who currently practice in the applicant's law firm or government entity may not be used as references. The applicant may provide the name and address of the head of a government entity or a member of a collegial board that serves as the head of a government entity in lieu of a judicial reference if the applicant has advised or appeared before the person within the 5 years preceding the application. At least 1 lawyer reference must be a member of The Florida Bar. The board of legal specialization and education and the state and federal government and administrative practice certification committee may authorize references from nonlawyers.(d) Waiver of Compliance. Any applicant for recertification who at the time of application is serving and has served full time for 3 or more years as an administrative law judge, arbitrator, hearing officer, or member of an administrative tribunal or panel is deemed to meet the recertification criteria.Added July 6, 2006, effective 8/1/2006, (SC06 1269), (933 So.2d 1123); amended and effective 12/4/2020 by The Florida Bar Board of Governors.