Becoming a Certified Specialist

Step 1: Register and prepare for the Legal Specialist Examination.

Step 2: Gain experience, complete education, and secure references, either before or after the examination.

Admissions Applicant Portal

The Legal Specialization examination application is administered through the Admissions Applicant Portal.

All California licensees have a current Applicant Portal account. Note that a new account should not be registered or created. If you need assistance logging in, please visit our Help Center or fill out the Licensee Records and Compliance Inquiry form. Through the Applicant Portal, licensees can register for the Legal Specialist Examination, apply for initial certification or recertification, report Legal Specialist Continuing Legal Education (LSCLE) Compliance, or submit other legal specialization requests. Current certified specialists can find initial certification dates, current certification terms, and LSCLE compliance dates in the Applicant Portal.

Note that (1) the Applicant Portal and My State Bar Profile utilize separate login credentials; and (2) any updates to your contact information in the Applicant Portal does not update your information in My State Bar Profile, or vice versa. All State Bar licensees are required to update their information within 30 days of a change.

How to prepare for the exam

  • Visit the exam information webpage to get information regarding eligibility requirements, registration details, and updates on the Legal Specialist Examination.
  • Review the free scope and sample questions. The scope and sample questions include sample essay questions and key facts about the exam. No multiple-choice questions are released for practice.
  • If permitted for your specialty area, decide whether you will bring an optional codebook. If so, please ensure your codebook adheres to the requirements outlined in the codebook bulletin.

Examination results

Exam results are valid up to three years after the exam. The 2023 Legal Specialist Examination results were sent via email on March 15, 2024, to the preferred email address identified on your Admissions Applicant Portal.

If you passed the 2023 examination, you had until April 26, 2025, to submit your post-examination application or request an extension for good cause through the Applicant Portal. Extensions cannot be granted beyond January 2027. The most common reason an extension is requested is that a person has not yet completed the full five years in practice required for a review of the application.

Requirements for certification

After passing the exam, you can submit a post-exam application for certification through the Applicant Portal. Your certification application will need the following information for the California Board of Legal Specialization (CBLS) to review:

  • Demonstrate a high level of experience in the specialty area by meeting specific task and experience requirements. See the requirements in the Legal Specialization Rules and Standards.
  • Complete at least 45 hours of continuing education in the specialty area or a closely related field (36 hours every three years thereafter).
  • Receive favorable evaluations from other attorneys and judges.

You may begin tracking these requirements through the Applicant Portal before taking the exam. Note that you will not be able to submit your application until after successfully passing the Legal Specialist Examination.

Review process

The review process typically takes about six months from the time you submit your post-examination application.

  1. Administrative review: Your application will first be reviewed for completeness.
  2. Reference questionnaires: Electronic questionnaires will be sent to your references. Once they are returned, your application will be ready for the next step.
  3. Final review and approval: After confirming that your application is complete, it will be reviewed, and the final certification decision will be made.
  4. Escalation or delays: If your application is escalated or delayed, additional advice may be requested from the working group to ensure a thorough review and make a final determination.

Fees

Effective 2025, Legal Specialization fees will increase. See new fees below.

Initial Certification fee: $308
Annual fee: $370
Recertification fee: $359 (every five years)