March 2026 Newsletter
The 2026 Certification Application Period Has Begun – Refer a Colleague
The board of legal specialization is currently accepting applications for initial certification. The deadline is May 1, 2026, with a $50 discount for applications received by April 1, 2026. If you know a colleague who would make a great board certified specialist, encourage them to apply in the State Bar Member’s Portal or email his/her name and practice area to ssaucier@ncbar.gov.
The Value and Power of a Brand
Branding is critical to the success of businesses and organizations.
The power branding creates helps organizations and businesses tap into consumers’ minds. Branding can create an unspoken emotional connection between you and your audience: clients, potential clients, and colleagues. To build this power and equity, start with a solid brand. You should effectively—and consistently—promote your business or organization or, in this case, specialty certification. Since consistency is so important, we have created guidelines to make sure the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization’s brand is used consistently across all platforms.
A brand for the specialization program helps the public to identify the program and to understand the significance of board certification for lawyers. It will also give lawyers who are board certified a way to represent, with an image, the effort they have put into becoming certified in a specific practice area. Read more in the Board of Legal Specialization Branding Guide.
NC LEAF-Your Donations Make a Difference
Public interest lawyers are some of the lowest paid in the state, and the application fees for specialization are often difficult to pay. To address this financial hurdle, we created the Jeri Whitfield Scholarship through NC LEAF to pay the application fees for public interest lawyers who pursue initial certification. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to NC LEAF. Any amount helps! Your donation will help a public interest lawyer pursue certification thereby generating confidence in legal services and the justice system for everyone in our state. To donate, please visit their website.Recertification Applications and Annual Dues - Available Soon
Specialists will have the ability to submit annual fee payments and complete recertification applications (if applicable) through the State Bar Member’s Portal beginning July 1, 2026. An automated message will be sent from our office as a reminder. The deadline to submit payment of annual fees and apply for recertification will be October 1, 2026. Please contact Katie Seruset at kseruset@ncbar.gov with any questions.