I am proud to be one of only five attorneys in the state to have received the distinction of being awarded board certification in both Appellate Practice and Civil Trial. I am sure however that most people do not fully appreciate what this means. It is not like many awards which can be bought or given gratuitously, it must be earned. First an attorney must make an application which is reviewed by other board certified lawyers before he or she is allowed to sit for the exams. Before the application can be filed the applicant must meet very stringent standards of experience in the particular field of certification and must be “peer reviewed” not only by other attorneys but also by judges before whom the attorney has practiced. The exams are strenuous and the passing rate hovers around sixty percent. In addition the certification must be renewed every 5 years. I was first certified in Civil Trial in 1989 and in Appellate Practice in 1995. I have been continuously certified in both since then. I am humbly proud that these certifications allow me to designate myself as an “expert”; only a board certified attorney may do so.
Should you need the services of a trial or appellate attorney please consider board certification as one of the criteria to be used in evaluating your selection of an attorney to represent you. This is true regardless of the basis of your need for an attorney. Board certified lawyers often concentrate in different areas and one board certified attorney who does not concentrate in the area of your particular need will recognize this and refer you to one who does.
I have successfully used my experience in state and federal courts in Florida and many other states; both at the trial and appellate levels. I have tried Medical Malpractice, Automobile Accident, Products Liability, Aviation Accident, and Slip and Fall cases. I have handled complex appeals and I am licensed to argue before the United States Supreme Court.
Lastly I would like to point out that our firm is unique among most trial law firms in that we represent both persons who are injured and seek just compensation for their injuries and those who are unjustly accused of having injured someone else. We do not however represent insurance companies: we represent people.
Let’s seek justice together.
Thank you,
DOCK A. BLANCHARD