The ABA Standing Committee on Specialization, through recommendations to the ABA House of Delegates, accredits specialty certification programs for lawyers in particular fields of law offered by private organizations that certify lawyers as specialists. The ABA began accrediting organizations that certify specialists in 1993 and ABA accreditation is now widely recognized as a valuable seal of approval for organizations that wish to confer specialty certification.
There are currently eighteen certification programs accredited by the ABA, administered by eight different private certifying organizations. Accredited programs have been found to be in compliance with the Standards for Accreditation of Specialty Certification Programs for Lawyers and operating under the Governing Rules.
Organizations with lawyer certification programs that are interested in learning more about ABA accreditation, or in requesting an application, should contact the ABA Standing Committee on Specialization.