Please review the general requirements for certification and continued certification, as well as the standards for Employment Law.

SUMMARY OF STANDARDS

LICENSURE

Licensed and in good standing to practice law in North Carolina as of the date of application.

SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT IN EMPLOYMENT LAW

During the five years preceding application:

Average of at least 700 hours a year.

Minimum of 400 hours for any one year.

Practice equivalents may be accepted for the following:

• service as a law professor concentrating on the teaching of employment law for up to three years.

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION

During the three years preceding application:

At least 36 hours of CLE credits in employment law, nine of which may be in related fields.

Related fields shall include contract law, administrative law, alternative dispute resolution, workers’ compensation law, the law of trade secrets and data privacy, business law/corporate governance law, employment benefits, tax law as regards compensation of employees, employment-related investigations, and civil litigation/trial advocacy.

PEER REVIEW

Must provide the names of ten lawyers or judges who are familiar with the competence and qualification of the applicant in employment law.

All references must be licensed and in good standing to practice law.

A reference may not be related by blood or marriage to the applicant, nor may the reference be a colleague at the applicant’s place of employment at the time of the application.

EXAM

Four 90-minute sessions (six hours long)

Exam sessions begin around 8:15 am and finish prior to 5 pm.

Includes multiple-choice, short answer, and short essay questions.

Exam administered at the NC State Bar building or through a remote proctoring option.