Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law

Richard Hornsby is Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law and as a Criminal Trial Advocate by:

To put that in perspective, there are approximately 75,000 attorneys licensed to practice law by The Florida Bar. Of that number, only 360 lawyers have been Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law by The Florida Bar and even fewer, 28, have been Board Certified as a Criminal Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

This places Orlando Criminal Lawyer Richard Hornsby in the top 1% of all Florida lawyers who have achieved Board Certification for Criminal Trial work.

The Florida Bar

Florida Bar's logo for Board Certification in Criminal Trial Law

Board Certification is the highest level of recognition The Florida Bar offers. The Board Certification Program was created by mandate of The Florida Supreme Court to the Florida Bar for the purpose assisting the public in making an informed decision when seeking and selecting a lawyer.

Importantly, under Florida Bar rules, only board certified attorneys are allowed to identify themselves as “Florida Bar Board Certified” as a “Specialist”, or as an “Expert” in a specific field of law.

Only board certified attorneys are allowed to refer to themselves as a Specialist or an Expert in a specific field of law.

Florida Bar Board Certification Requirements

To become Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law, a lawyer must have:

  • Practiced on a full-time basis for at least five years,
  • Handled a minimum of 25 criminal trials,
  • Passed peer review by judges and lawyers,
  • Completed 45 hours of continuing legal education, and
  • Pass a written examination demonstrating knowledge, skill, and proficiency in the field of criminal trial law.

The National Board of Trial Advocacy

The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) is accredited by the American Bar Association and provides recognition for superior achievement in trial advocacy.

In bestowing the distinction of Board Certified Criminal Trial Advocate, the NBTA uses a highly-structured and arduous examination process to select its members by employing a wide range of assessment methods.

NBTA Board Certification Requirements

To become Board Certified as a Criminal Trial Advocate, a lawyer must:

  • Demonstrate good standing with the Florida Bar,
  • Demonstrate substantial involvement as a criminal trial lawyer,
  • Demonstrate substantial participation in continuing legal education,
  • Pass peer review by at least three judges and three lawyers before whom the applicant has tried a criminal case,
  • Pass a written examination showing proficiency, knowledge, and experience in criminal trial law,
  • Submit a legal pleading demonstrating quality legal writing skills, and
  • Provide a full conduct disclosure,