Panel Qualifications Standards
Select the practice area below to jump to the qualifications standards of that practice area. For questions or assistance, call (424) 367-1271.
ADMINISTRATIVE QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Administrative Law Sub-panels
Department of Motor Vehicles
Education: Student
Education: Teacher
Federal Agencies (Other)
Licenses: Liquor Licenses, Restaurant, Other Businesses
Licenses–Professional Military (Administrative) Public Utilities Commission State Agencies (Other) State Disability (Benefits) State Unemployment (Benefits) Veterans (Benefits)
Experience Requirements
For any Administrative Law sub-panel, within the past five (5) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared all papers in connection with at least three (3) administrative hearings before a hearing panel, city council or board, and at the judicial level, at least two (2) CCP §1094.5 writs, including at least one of which involved a “substantial evidence” or statutorily defined scope of review and at least one that involved an “independent judgment” scope of review.
Required Practice Information
Licenses-Professional sub-panel: list the types of licenses you have experience with.
Federal Agencies (Other) sub-panel: list which agencies you can appear before.
State Agencies (Other) sub-panel: list which agencies you can appear before.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the subpanel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
BANKRUPTCY QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Bankruptcy Law Sub-panels
Chapter 11 (Business Reorganization)
Chapter 13 (Business Reorganization)
Creditor’s Rights Personal Bankruptcy (Chapter 7)
Straight Bankruptcy Business Liquidation
Certified Specialist
Certified specialists are exempt from meeting experience requirements in respective panels.
Bankruptcy Experience Requirements
Chapter 11 (Business Reorganization)
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and have personally performed all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers for at least three (3) business debtors in connection with at least two (2) of the following categories, one of which must be a proceeding of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Act in which a Plan of Arrangement was confirmed:
(1) Proceeding of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Act in which a Plan of Arrangement was confirmed,
(2) Straight bankruptcy proceeding involving a business or professional practice, and
(3) State court receivership, or a corporate dissolution where the assets were liquidated for the benefit of creditors, or a composition or an assignment for benefit of creditors.
Chapter 13 (Business Reorganization)
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and have personally performed all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers for at least three (3) business debtors in connection with at least two (2) of the following categories, one of which must be a proceeding of Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Act in which a Plan of Arrangement was confirmed:
(1) Proceeding of Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Act in which a Plan of Arrangement was confirmed,
(2) Straight bankruptcy proceeding involving a business or professional practice, and
(3) State court receivership, or a corporate dissolution where assets were liquidated for the benefit of creditors, or a composition or an assignment for benefit of creditors.
Straight Bankruptcy Business Liquidation
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and have personally performed all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers for at least three (3) business debtors in connection with at least two (2) of the following categories, one of which must be a straight bankruptcy proceeding involving a business of professional practice:
(1) Proceeding of Chapter 11 or 13 of the Bankruptcy Act in which a Plan of Arrangement was confirmed,
(2) Straight bankruptcy proceeding involving a business or professional practice, and
(3) State court receivership, or a corporate dissolution where the assets were liquidated for the benefit of creditors, or a composition or an assignment for benefit of creditors.
Creditors’ Rights
Within the past five (5) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and have personally performed all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with the representation of at least three (3) secured creditors in a bankruptcy proceeding: one Chapter 7 and one Chapter 11 or 13 involving analysis and confirmation of the debtor’s plans, and at least two (2) matters involving the preparation and filing of a proof of claim on behalf of an unsecured creditor.
Personal Bankruptcy (Chapter 7)
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record for a consumer debtor and have personally performed all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with at least five (5) proceedings under the Bankruptcy Code. Applicant must have sufficient knowledge of Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code to inform a debtor about it and advise the debtor whether it would be in the debtor’s interest to file Chapter13. Proceedings for husband and wife shall be deemed to be one proceeding.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
BUSINESS QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Business Law Sub-panels
Admiralty/Maritime (Business)
Antitrust
Buying and Selling Businesses
Cannabis Pro Bono
Collections
Dissolution
Formation
Franchise
General Contracts/Commercial Paper/Secured Transactions
Litigation
Mediation
Not-for-Profit Organizations
Securities Offerings
Trade Secrets/Unfair Competition
Bankruptcy Experience Requirements
Admiralty/Maritime (Business)
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work in connection with five (5) completed admiralty/maritime matters.
Antitrust
In addition to meeting the requirements for the Litigation subpanel, within the past five (5) years,applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work in connection with two (2) antitrust matters and must have staff capacity to handle such matters.
Buying & Selling Businesses, Dissolution and Formation
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised preparation of all papers in connection with at least four (4) of the following:
(1) Incorporation of three domestic corporations including qualification and issuance of corporate shares, preparation of the articles of incorporation, bylaws, and minutes of the first meeting of board of directors, or incorporation of two domestic corporations and one qualification to do business in California of a corporation incorporated under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction;
(2) Formation of one limited or general partnership;
(3) One notice to creditors of a bulk transfer, or the dissolution of one domestic corporation;
(4) Three (3) purchases or sales of all of the assets of a business or the stock of a corporation,including transferring/obtaining appropriate licenses; or
(5) One stock redemption or cross-purchase buy-sell agreement.
Cannabis Pro Bono
Within the past three (3) years, the attorney must have completed at least five (5) cannabis-specific MCLE hours. Attorney must have performed legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of all papers in connection with at least four (4) of the following categories:
(1) Incorporation of at least one domestic corporation including issuance of corporate shares, preparation of the articles of incorporation, bylaws and related documents;
(2) Formation of at least one limited liability company, or limited or general partnership;
(3) Drafting and/or negotiation of at least one operating agreement concerning an entity’s ownership, allocation of profits, management control and voting rights;
(4) Dissolution of one domestic corporation;
(5) Drafting and/or negotiation of at least one agreement concerning the sale of assets of a business or the stock of a corporation;
(6) Drafting and/or negotiation of at least one stock redemption or buy-sell agreement;
(7) Drafting and/or negotiation of at least two (2) commercial leases; or
(8) At least one litigation or mediation of a landlord-tenant dispute.
Participating attorneys will also provide written responses to the following inquiries:
(1) Please describe your experience, if any, advising businesses and individuals on commercial cannabis activity.
(2) Please describe your experience advising social equity clients, clients from marginalized communities and/or socially conscious companies.
The scope of pro bono services provided under this panel are as follows:
(1) Draft, revise or provide advice concerning entity formation, articles of incorporation, bylaws, operating agreements, and related documents;
(2) Draft, revise or provide advice concerning Equity Share compliance, as described in Los Angeles Municipal Code Sec. 104.20;
(3) Draft, revise or provide advice concerning commercial leases;
(4) General advice regarding the City of Los Angeles’ Cannabis Procedures Ordinance and other related laws and regulations.
(5) Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) considerations.
Legal services beyond the scope of the above pro bono limitations are subject to percentage fees as provided in the Rules of Operation.
Collections
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have handled at least five (5) collections matters on behalf of businesses.
Franchise
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have handled at least five (5) franchise matters on behalf of business clients.
General Contracts/Commercial Paper/Secured Transactions
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have drafted at least five (5) business contracts, two (2) of which included enforceable security interests.
Litigation
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with at least three (3) contested business matters, at least one (1) of which proceeded through trial in either Federal Court or Superior Court and involved at least one of the following issues:
(1) Government Contracts,
(2) Employment Contracts,
(3) Fiduciary Duties,
(4) Shareholder Agreements,
(5) Unfair Competition,
(6) Antitrust,
(7) Commercial Law transactions,
(8) Partnership Agreements, or
(9) Securities.
Mediation
Within the past two (2) years, applicant must have personally represented clients in connection with at least three (3) mediations involving two (2) or more businesses, for such matters as breach of contract, partnership agreements, or UCC disputes, and at least two (2) of which resulted in final resolution without litigation.
Not-for-profit Organizations
In addition to meeting experience requirements for the Formation and Dissolution sub-panels, within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of all papers in connection with at least two (2) incorporations of domestic nonprofit corporations, including preparation of articles of incorporation, bylaws, and minutes of the first meeting of the board of directors.
Securities Offerings
Within the past four (4) years, applicant must have participated in handling at least one (1) offering of securities; participated in proceedings in connection with a proxy statement filed under Section 14 of the 1934 Act; had primary responsibility for the preparation of a registration statement for filing with the SEC under the 1933 Act and any two (2) of the following:
(1) Preparation of an Application for Qualification in California;
(2) Blue Sky Survey and Qualification of a nationwide public offering;
(3) Handling of any appearance before a state securities commission;
(4) Preparation and filing of a listing application on the NYSE or ASE, and had primary responsibility for any two (2) of the following:
(1) Filing of proxy material under any applicable state law;
(2) Filing of a Schedule 14D under the 1934 Act;
(3) Preparation and filing of annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly report on Form 10-Q, or Form 8-K on behalf of an issuer with the SEC; or(4) Participation in the formulation of an annual report to shareholders that complies with the requirements of the 1934 Act.
Trade Secrets/Unfair Competition
Applicant must have personally performed all legal work in connection with three (3) trade secret/unfair competition matters within the last three (3) years.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
CIVIL APPELLATE QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Experience Requirements
Within the past three (3) years, applicant, while licensed to practice law by the State Bar of California, must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised the preparation of, papers in connection with at least five (5) civil appeals. At least one (1) of the five must have been an appellant’s opening brief.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
CONSUMER LAW AND CREDIT QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Consumer Law and Credit Sub-panels
Collections/Breach of Contract
Consumer Fraud
Credit Denial & Credit Reporting Agencies
General Consumer Law
Home Improvement/Repairs
“Lemon Law”
Repossessions/Secured Transactions
Experience Requirements
Collections/Breach of Contract
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with three (3) contested collection/breach of contract matters, including at least one such matter through trial.
Consumer Fraud
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have completed five (5) consumer fraud matters.
Credit Denial & Credit Reporting Agencies
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised the preparation of, all papers in connection with at least three (3) contested collection matters, including at least one such matter through trial; one or more matters in which applicant sought or defended against at least one (1) of the following provisional remedies: claim and delivery, injunction, attachment, receivership, and deposit in court; and one or more matters in which applicant conducted a debtor’s examination.
General Consumer Law, Home Improvements/Repairs, “Lemon Law” and Repossessions/Secured Transactions
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have completed at least five (5) matters in the sub-panel(s) in which applicant desires to receive potential clients.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
CRIMINAL QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Criminal Law Sub-panels
Appeals
Death Penalty/No Possibility of Parole
Felony
Felony Homicide
Military (criminal only)
Misdemeanor
Traffic
White Collar Crimes
Certified Specialist
Certified specialists are exempt from meeting experience requirements in their respective panels.
Experience Requirements
Appeals
Within the past five (5) years, applicant must have been attorney of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work in connection with at least three (3) criminal appeals in which briefs were filed and an opinion rendered, Federal, State, or both.
Death Penalty/No Possibility of Parole
In addition to meeting the experience requirements for the Felony and Felony Homicide sub-panels, within the past five (5) years, applicant must have been attorney of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work in connection with at least two (2) death penalty/no possibility of parole cases through verdict within the last five (5) years, Federal, State, or both.
Felony
Within the past five (5) years, applicant must have been attorney of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work in connection with at least five (5) felony jury trials through verdict or two (2) such felony jury trials and ten (10) such misdemeanor cases,Federal, State, or both.
Felony Homicide
Within the past three (5) years applicant must have been attorney of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work in connection with at least one (1) felony homicide jury trial through verdict and at least ten (10) jury trials.
Military (Criminal Only)
Within the past five (5) years, applicant must have been attorney of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work in connection with at least five (5) matters related to disciplinary proceedings (consisting of courts martial and non-judicial punishment given under Art. 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) and proceedings before administrative military boards.
Misdemeanor
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been attorney of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work in connection with at least three (3) misdemeanor cases and at least one (1) completed jury trial through verdict, Federal, State, or both.
Traffic
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been attorney of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work in connection with at least five (5) traffic matters.
White Collar Crimes
Within the past five (5) years, applicant must have been attorney of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work in connection with at least two (2) white collar crimes through verdict,Federal, State, or both.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
ENTERTAINMENT QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Entertainment Law Sub-panels
Athletes/Artists/Modeling/Performers
Film/Television
Litigation
Music/Recording
Publishing
Theater
Experience Requirements Athletes/Artists/Modeling/Performers, Film/Television, Music/Recording, Publishing and Theater
For each sub-panel for which applicant is applying, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and completed five (5) matters, including negotiating, drafting, and executing of agreements in at least four (4) of the matters.
Litigation
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been principal counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with at least two (2) contested entertainment matters from discovery through settlement or judgment.
Indicate the sub-panels/areas of law in which you will accept litigation potential clients . Indicate whether you appear in federal court.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Environmental Law Sub-panels
Conservation/Public Lands
Hazardous/Toxic Wastes
Mineral Rights
Oil and Gas
Water Rights
Experience Requirements
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and completed five (5) matters in each specific sub-panel for which the applicant is applying. In addition, applicant must have been attorney of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with at least three (3) contested matters, at least one of which proceeded through trial in either Federal Court or Superior Court.
Indicate the sub-panels/areas of law in which you will accept litigation potential clients. Indicate whether you appear in federal court.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
FAMILY LAW QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Family Law Sub-panels
Adoption (Interstate and International)
Adoption (Intrastate)
Custody Disputes (Interstate & International) & Move Away Cases
Dissolution/Legal Separation/Custody/Annulments
Domestic Violence Prevention Act Restraining Orders
Fee from Spouse
Guardianship of Minors
Mediation in Separation/Dissolution/Custody
Paternity
Post-Judgment Enforcement of Orders
Pre-Nuptial & Domestic Partnership Agreements
Support Modification
Certified Specialist
Certified specialists are exempt from meeting experience requirements in their respective panels.
Experience Requirements
Adoption (Intrastate) and Adoption
Within the past five (5) years, applicant must have personally performed or supervised preparation of all papers in connection with at least one (1) agency adoption and one (1) private adoption through completion. Interstate, international, or both.
Custody Disputes & Move Away Cases
Within the past two (2) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of all papers in connection with at least one (1) contested child custody dispute involving one party or child who resides outside of the State of California, or involving a custodial parent who sought to move with a child to allocation where or area where joint physical custody was not a parenting option. For interstate cases applicant must be familiar with practice under the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act (PKPA) 28 USC 1738A, and the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (UCCJA) Family Code 3401 -3425, FC 3. For international cases applicant must be familiar with practice under the UCCJA and the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, done at the Hague on October 25, 1980 (The Hague Convention). Interstate, international, or both.
DVPA Restraining Orders
Within the past two (2) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of all paperwork necessary in securing at least two (2) Domestic Violence Protection Act Restraining Orders.
Guardianship of Minors
Within the past five (5) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of all papers in connection with at least three (3) cases involving guardianship of minors. Applicant must demonstrate familiarity with the Guardianship Act (Probate Code Sec.1500 et seq.), as distinguished from Juvenile Court guardianships.
Mediation in Separation/Dissolution/Custody
Within the past two (2) years, applicant must have personally represented clients at three (3) different family law mediations, each resulting in an agreement to divide marital property and/or share custody and visitation of a child (or children).
Dissolution/Legal Separation/Custody/Annulments, Fee From Spouse and Support Modification
The requirements for these sub-panels are divided into three “levels” of case complexity. For each sub-panel you wish to apply for, click the applicable box(es) below to indicate which level(s) you qualify for and wish to receive potential clients.
Level 1: Uncomplicated Matters
Applicant must have a basic knowledge of the Family Code, case law, and tax law relating to family law issues. Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of all papers in connection with at least three (3) dissolutions, from first filing through settlement or final judgment, involving such issues as property disputes, distribution of family home, valuation and distribution of pensions, household furniture, insurance policies, bank accounts, cars, debts, etc. Level 1 applies to clients with an annual income of under $60,000, and net marital assets of less than $50,000, excluding the equity in a family home, and cases not involving contested child custody or substantial distribution issues.
Level 2: More Complicated Matters
Applicant must have e detailed working knowledge of the Family Code, case law, and tax law relating to family law issues. Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of all papers in connection with at least five (5) family law cases: (1) At least two (2) of which involved complex property disputes (e.g., cases involving valuation of businesses, corporations, partnerships or practices; valuation and distribution of professional degrees, licenses, practices and stock options; cases involving complex tracing problems, or tax ramifications of marital dissolution), and (2) At least two (2) of which required hearings for contested issues of child or spousal support, or child custody through settlement or final judgment. Applicant must be familiar with the use and practices of child evaluators, psychologists, mental health professionals, and use of expert witnesses at trial. Applicant must also be familiar with application of the Statewide Uniform Child Support Guidelines. In addition, applicant must have prepared a combination of at least five (5) marital property settlements or custody agreements. Applicant must have familiarity with discovery methods and procedures, and with rules governing testimony of expert witnesses. Level 2 is for clients with annual incomes of between $61,000 and $199,000, and net marital assets of between $51,000 and $200,000, exclusive of equity in family home.
Level 3: Extremely Complicated Matters
A substantial portion of the applicant’s practice must be devoted to family law. Applicant must meet the requirements for Level 2 and have a thorough knowledge of valuation of assets, property distribution, and custody standards. Applicant should be thoroughly familiar with discovery methods, discovery of hidden assets, and the use of expert witnesses. Level 3 is for clients with annual incomes in excess of $200,000 and/or substantial marital assets; unusual or difficult asset valuation and distribution problems; unusual or complex child custody/visitation problems.
Paternity
Within the past five (5) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of all papers in connection with at least three (3) cases involving paternity actions.
Post-Judgment Enforcement of Orders
Within the past five (5) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of all papers in connection with at least five (5) cases seeking to enforce judgments for support, custody, or property distribution. Applicant should be familiar with the uses and limitations of civil contempt statutes, property liens and encumbrances, attachment, garnishment, wage assignment, and other collection and enforcement methods and strategies.
Pre-nuptial & Domestic Partnership Agreements
Within the past five (5) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of all papers in connection with at least five (5) pre-nuptial or domestic partnership agreements.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
HEALTHCARE QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Healthcare Law Sub-panels
Advance Healthcare Directive
Medical Treatment/Consent Matters
MediCare/MediCal
Mental Health Advocacy
Experience Requirements
Advanced Healthcare Directive
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of at least five (5) durable powers of attorney for healthcare.
Medical Treatment/Consent Matters and Mental Health Advocacy
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared all papers in connection with at least five (5) matters related to the sub-panel for which applicant is applying.
MediCare/MediCal
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared all papers in connection with at least three (3) administrative hearings before a hearing panel, city council or board, and at the judicial level, at least two (2) CCP Sec.1104.5 writs, including at least one which involved a “substantial evidence or statutorily defined scope of review and at least one which involved an “independent judgment” scope of review.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
IMMIGRATION QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Immigration Sub-panels
Business Immigration
Deportation
Labor Certification
Political Asylum
Visas/Naturalization
Certified Specialist
Certified specialists are exempt from meeting experience requirements in their respective panels.
Experience Requirements
Business Immigration
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of, all papers in connection with five (5) business immigration matters.
Deportation
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared all papers in connection with at least five (5) deportation or exclusion hearings commenced before a Special Inquiry Officer of the Immigration and Naturalization Services. At least three (3) such hearings must have been ones in which the alien denied the charges contained in the Government’s Order to Show Cause or made an affirmative application for relief from deportation, other than an uncontested application for voluntary departure.
Labor Certification, Political Asylum and Visas/Naturalization
In addition to the requirements set forth for the Deportation sub-panel, applicant must have handled, within the past five years, at least five (5) other cases involving at least three (3) of the following examples in proceedings before the United States Departments of Justice, Labor, or State, or in the federal courts. Examples of such cases are: visa petition, visa applications, labor certifications, fraud investigations, adjustments of status, change of non-immigrant status, administrative appeals, naturalization petition, and civil or criminal court proceedings.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
INSURANCE QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Insurance Law Sub-panels
Accident/Health/Disability Insurance
Bad Faith Issues
Disaster-Related Claims
Homeowners (Fire/Property/Casualty)
Live Insurance
Obligation of Defense & Indemnity
Experience Requirements
To be sent cases on any Insurance Law sub-panel, within the past four (4) years, applicant must have served as counsel of record in five (5) or more litigated matters in two (2) or more of the sub-panel areas and which involve claiming or resisting coverage, contribution, or indemnity. Applicants must be familiar with declaratory judgment actions and have litigation experience in actions on the policy, actions for declaratory judgment, and/or common law interpleader.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Intellectual Property Sub-panels
Computer
Copyright
Litigation
Patent
Trademark
Experience Requirements
Computer Law
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of all papers in connection with at least five (5) contracts, and represented vendors or purchasers or developers of computer software in at least five (5) matters.
Copyright
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of at least five (5) copyright applications, one (1) copyright license agreement, and have handled two (2) matters concerning the transfer, licensing, renewal, or infringement of copyrights.
Litigation
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised the preparation of, all papers in connection with at least four (4) contested matters (involving at least two (2) of the following areas: Computer Law Copyright, Patent, Trademark), at least one (1) of which proceeded to trial and settled and one (1) of which proceeded through trial in either Federal Court or Superior Court. Indicate the sub-panels/areas of law in which you will accept litigation potential clients. Also indicate whether you appear in federal court.
Patent
Applicant must be admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent Office, and, within the past three (3) years, must have personally performed all legal work and prepared, or supervised the preparation of, at least two (2) license agreements and filed and prosecuted through issuance at least five (5) patent applications in one of these areas:
Electrical/electronic inventions,
Chemical inventions, or
Mechanical inventions.
Trademark
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation through execution of at least two (2) trademark license agreements and filed and prosecuted through issuance at least five (5) Federal trademark applications.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
International Law Sub-panels
Commercial Matters
Customs & Tariffs
International Trade Agreements
Litigation
Personal Matters
Experience Requirements
Within the last three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and completed five (5) matters in each sub-panel for which the applicant is applying. In addition, applicants for the Litigation sub-panel must have been attorney of record and performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised the preparation of, all papers in connection with at least three (3) contested matters, at least one of which proceeded to trial in either Federal Court or Superior Court and settled or proceeded to final judgment. Indicate the sub-panels/areas of law in which you will accept litigation potential clients . Also indicate whether you appear in federal court.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
JUVENILE QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Juvenile Law Sub-panels
Delinquency – Appeals
Delinquency – Felony
Delinquency – Misdemeanor
Dependency & Parental Rights
Dependency & Parental Rights Appeals
Experience Requirements
Delinquency Appeals
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of all papers in connection with at least two (2) delinquency appeals in which briefs were filed and an opinion rendered.
Delinquency – Misdemeanor and Delinquency – Felony
To be assigned a matter involving either Sec. 601, Sec. 602 or Sec. 777-8 (where the petition was originally sustained under Sec. 601 or Sec. 602) of the Welfare and Institutions Code, applicant must have, within the past three (3) years, personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of all papers in connection with at least three (3) such proceedings, at least two (2) of which shall have involved a contested jurisdictional hearing at which testimony was received. To be assigned a matter involving Sec. 602 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code wherein there is an allegation of a crime of violence, in addition to qualifying for the applicable Delinquency sub-panel, applicant must also qualify for the corresponding Criminal Law sub-panel that forms the basis of the Sec. 602 violation. The applicant need not, however, be on the Criminal Law panel.
Dependency and Parental Rights
To be assigned a matter involving Sec. 300, Sec. 777-8 (where petition was originally sustained under Sec. 300) of the California Welfare and Institutions Code, or Sec. 232 of the California Civil Code, applicant, within the past three (3) years, must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of all papers in connection with at least two (2) such proceedings, at least one (1) of which must have involved a contested jurisdictional hearing at which testimony was received.
Dependency & Parental Rights Appeals
To be assigned an appeal arising out of a matter described in the Dependency and Parental Rights sub-panel, applicant must qualify for the Dependency & Parental Rights sub-panel and within the past three (3) years, must have personally performed all legal work and prepared, or supervised the preparation of, all papers in connection with at least one (1) appeal involving a matter described in the Dependency and Parental Rights sub-panel in which briefs were filed and an opinion rendered.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Labor & Employment Law Sub-panels
Civil Service (Rights of Individuals)
Employer Representation
Employment Contracts
ERISA Benefits (pension, health, disability)
Executive Compensation Agreements
Fair Labor Standards Act
Family Medical Leave Act
Non-Union, Non-Government (Rights of Individuals)
Public Sector Benefits (pension, health, disability)
Sexual Harassment
Union (Rights of Individuals)Wrongful Termination
Experience Requirements
Civil Service (Rights of Individuals)
Within the past two (2) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of all papers in connection with at least three (3) administrative government employment hearings and at least one writ of mandate related thereto. In addition, applicant must have been principal attorney of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised the preparation of, all papers in connection with at least three (3) cases which involved compliance with the administrative and jurisdictional prerequisites to suit, and at least one (1) case which went through trial.
Employer Representation
Within the past five (5) years, applicant must have represented employers in at least ten (10) matters involving negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement, defense of a wrongful termination claim, or defense of a charge of discriminatory or unfair labor practices.
Employment Contracts
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work on behalf of an employee in connection with at least three (3) employment contracts.
ERISA Benefits (Pension, Health and Disability)
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have completed five (5) ERISA matters, including two (2) administrative appeals of a claim denial. Applicant must have served as lead counsel in at least two (2) cases brought in either State or Federal court; at least one (1) matter must have been resolved by summary judgment or trial.
Executive Compensation Agreements
Within the past five (5) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work on behalf of an employer in connection with at least three (3) employment contracts and three (3) executive compensation agreements.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work on at least two (2) cases based on the Fair Labor Standards Act through discovery.
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work on at least two (2) cases based on the Family Medical Leave Act through discovery.
Non-Union, Non-Government (Rights of Individuals)
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work in connection with at least three (3) completed Non-Union, Non-Government (Rights of Individuals) matters.
Public Sector Benefits (Pension, Health and Disability)
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have completed five (5) public sector pension, health, and disabilitymatters.
Sexual Harassment
Within the past five (5) years, applicant must have served as lead counsel in at least two (2) cases brought under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title VII in the area of discrimination on the basis of sex, and served as counsel in a least two (2) sexual harassment cases. At least two (2) cases must have been handled through a trial.
Union (Rights of Individuals)
Within the past two (2) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared, or supervised the preparation of, all papers in connection with at least three (3) administrative, arbitration, or judicial hearings, at least two (2) of which involved charges filed with the NLRB or the ALRB and at least one of which required the handling of an NLRB or ALRB hearing or the appeal of an NLRB or ALRB dismissal. In addition, applicant must have served as lead counsel and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised the preparation of, all papers in connection with at least three (3) cases which involved compliance with the administrative and jurisdictional prerequisites to suit, and at least one (1) case which went through trial.
Wrongful Termination
Within the past five (5) years, applicant must have resolved at least eight (8) matters, been principal attorney of record in at least three (3) wrongful discharge actions through the discovery process, and within the past seven (7) years, have handled any two (2) matters through trial in Superior or Federal Court.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
LANDLORD/TENANT QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Landlord/Tenant Sub-panels
Commercial Landlord Representation
Residential Landlord Representation
Commercial Tenant Representation
Residential Tenant Representation
Experience Requirements
Commercial Landlord Representation and Commercial Tenant Representation
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with at least four (4) contested commercial unlawful detainer or forcible entry cases, including at least one of which involved the breach of a covenant other than the covenant to pay and at least one of which proceeded through trial and judgment.
Residential Landlord Representation and Residential Tenant Representation
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of, all papers in connection with at least four (4) contested residential unlawful detainer or forcible entry cases, including at least one (1) of which involved the breach of an implied warranty of habitability and at least one (1) of which proceeded through trial and judgment.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
REAL PROPERTY QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Real Property Sub-panels
Commercial Transactions (purchase & sale)
Condominiums and Cooperatives
Construction
Easement/Zoning/Variance Matters
Eminent Domain/Condemnation
Foreclosures
Litigation of Complex Matters (fraud, rescission, etc.)
Litigation of Ownership/Possession Disputes
Litigation of Land Use Matters
Residential Transactions (purchase & sale)
Experience Requirements
Commercial Transactions (purchase & sale)
Within the past two (2) years, applicant must have handled one or more matters in each of the following categories: 1. Negotiating and drafting documentation for a sale of property for development or subdivision; 2. Negotiating and drafting documentation for a lease of non-residential property, i.e., a ground lease, building lease or office space lease; and (3) Representation of the borrower or lender in obtaining financing for commercial development.
Condominiums & Cooperatives
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have handled at least five (5) matters related to condominium or cooperative law.
Construction
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have negotiated and drafted at least five (5) construction contracts, or have represented clients in at least three (3) matters involving the enforcement or removal of mechanics liens.
Easement/Zoning Variance Matters and Litigation of Land Use Matters
Within the past two (2) years, applicant must have made at least two (2) appearances (of which at least one must have involved a commercial, as opposed to residential, transaction) before a Planning Commission, City Council, Board of Supervisors, or other agency to secure: 1. Rezoning amendment, 2. Conditional use permit, 3. Variance, 4. Exception, 5. Approval of a tentative subdivision map, 6. Approval concerning other matters relating to land use regulation In addition, applicant must have had primary responsibility, within the same time period, for handling any two (2) of the following: 1. Acquisition of approval of a parcel map, 2. Acquisition of a Permit from the Regional Coastal Zone Conservation Commission, 3. Litigation concerning constitutionality of zoning laws or consistency with general plan, 4. Matters concerning preparation of, or necessary for, an environmental impact statement pursuant to the Environmental Quality Act of 1970.
Eminent Domain/Condemnation
Within the past two (2) years, applicant must have had primary responsibility for handling at least three (3) condemnation cases (for either the condemned or condemnor) in which a complaint was filed. Such cases must have included at least one contested trial handled to the point of judgment, and must have involved any three (3) of the following issues: 1. Public use, questions of excess condemnation and future use; 2. Severance damages relating to availability of amenities (e.g.water, sewer, road access) or the taking of a portion of a parcel of property; 3. Immediate possession; 4. Necessity for taking particular parcel; 5. Division of compensation among divided interest (e.g., leaseholds, liens, future interest); 6. Special valuation problems including valuation date, goodwill, easements, improvement involving commercial,office or industrial buildings; 7. Inverse condemnation; 8. Power of entity to exercise eminent domain, including quasi-public or private condemnation.
Foreclosures
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have handled all legal work in connection with at least four (4) foreclosure proceedings.
Litigation of Complex Matters (e.g. fraud, rescission) and Litigation of Ownership/Possession Disputes
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been principal attorney of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of, all papers in connection with at least three (3) contested matters, at least one of which proceeded to trial (and were then settled or proceeded through final judgment) in either Federal Court or Superior Court and involved two (2) of the following matters: 1. Construction Contracts; 2. Real Property (other than unlawful detainer); 3. Fiduciary Duties; 4. Partnership Agreements; or 5. Real Estate Fraud.
Residential Transactions (purchase & sale)
Within the past two (2) years, applicant must have either prepared escrow instructions or supervised the administration and closing of an escrow and handled one or more matters in each of the following categories: 1. Negotiating and drafting documentation for a residential lease of real property; 2. Negotiating for consummation of a residential sale of property; 3. Preparation or review of a note and deed of trust.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
Experience Requirements
To be assigned cases on any Social Security Law sub-panel, within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of at least: 1. At the administrative level, two (2) cases involving the establishment of eligibility because of disability due to a physical and/or mental condition under Supplemental Security Disability Income programs; 2. At the administrative level, one case involving an issue other than whether a person is presently disabled, i.e., disputes over the number of quarters worked, over-payments, or establishing disability at a time substantially prior to application date; 3. One appeal of an adverse decision to Federal District Court or the handling of a CCP Sec. 10945.5 administrative writ in a welfare case.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
TAXATION QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Taxation Law Sub-panels
Audits
Business Income Taxation
Interstate/International Taxation
Litigation
Pension-Related Taxation
Personal Income Taxation
Property Taxation
Certified Specialist
Certified specialists are exempt from meeting experience requirements in their respective panels.
Experience Requirements
Levels apply to all Taxation sub-panels. Additional requirements apply for some sub-panels. If your levels differ by sub-panel, indicate accordingly.
Level 1: Matters involving potential taxes of less than $25,000 for an individual or $50,000 for a business, with no potential tax fraud problems. Applicant must have a basic knowledge of tax laws, regulations, rulings and case law.
Level 2: Matters involving potential taxes of less than $100,000with no allegation of tax fraud. Applicant must have a detailed working knowledge of the tax laws, regulations, rulings, and case law sufficient to handle more complex matters than Level 1, but less complex than Level 3.
Level 3: Complex matters involving potential taxes of $100,000 or more or matters involving allegation of tax fraud. Applicant must have a thorough knowledge of the tax laws, regulations, rulings, and case law.
Audits
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared, or supervised the preparation of all paperwork in connection with at least three (3) audits, three (3) appeals conferences or two (2) filings of petitions before the U.S. Tax Court.
Business Taxation
Within the past three (3) years, applicants must have rendered an opinion in at least three (3) separate taxation of business matters, or have an LL.M. degree in taxation and show that they limit their practice to tax and tax-related matters, or have obtained at least two (2) rulings from the national office of the Internal Revenue Service, or have completed two (2) tax proceedings before the Appellate Division of the Internal Revenue Service.
Litigation
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised the preparation of, all papers in connection with at least three (3) contested tax matters, at least one (1) of which proceeded (and were then settled or proceeded through final judgment) in either Tax Court or Federal Court. Indicate the sub-panels/areas of law in which you will accept litigation potential clients.
Pension-Related Taxation
Within the past three (3) years, applicants must have rendered an opinion in at least three (3) separate taxation of pension matters, or have an LL.M. degree in taxation and show that they limit their practice to tax and tax-related matters, or have obtained at least two (2) rulings from the national office of the Internal Revenue Service, or have completed two (2) tax proceedings before the Appellate Division of the Internal Revenue Service.
Personal Income Taxation
Within the past three (3) years, applicants must have rendered an opinion in at least three (3) separate taxation of personal income matters, or have an LL.M. degree in taxation and show that they limit their practice to tax and tax-related matters, or have obtained at least two (2) rulings from the national office of the Internal Revenue Service, or have completed two (2) tax proceedings before the Appellate Division of the Internal Revenue Service.
Property Taxation
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have handled at least three (3) separate tax.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
TORT QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Tort Sub-panels
Admiralty/Maritime Accidents
Assault & Battery / Intentional Injuries
Auto Accidents
Aviation Accidents/Mass Disasters
Defamation/Invasion of Privacy
Malpractice—Dental
Malpractice—Legal
Malpractice—Medical
Malpractice—Other
Personal Injury/Premises Liability
Products Liability
Property Damage
Sexual Assault/Childhood Sexual Abuse
Suits against States/Municipalities
Tavern Owners Liability
Experience Requirements
Levels apply to all Tort sub-panels. Additional requirements apply for some sub-panels.
Assault & Battery/Intentional Injuries
Auto Accidents
Aviation Accidents/Mass Disasters
Personal Injury/Premises Liability
Products Liability
Property Damage
Suits against States/Municipalities
Tavern Owners Liability
Level 1: Probable Damage Evaluation Less Than $50,000
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with at least one (1) personal injury case through trial and settled a minimum of three (3) additional matters for the sub-panel in which applicant wishes to receive potential clients.
Level 2: Probable Damage Evaluation of UP To $250,000
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with three (3) cases in excess of $100,000 and a minimum of one (1) additional case in excess of $50,000 for the sub-panel in which applicant wishes to receive potential clients.
Level 3: Probable Damage Evaluation in Excess of $250,000
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with three (3) cases in excess of $250,000 and a minimum of one (1) additional case in excess of $100,000 for the sub-panel in which applicant wishes to receive potential clients.
Admiralty/Maritime Accidents
Level 1: Probable Damage Evaluation Less Than $50,000
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with at least one (1) personal injury case through trial and completed a minimum of three (3) additional admiralty/maritime injury matters.
Level 2: Probable Damage Evaluation of UP To $250,000
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with at least three (3) cases in excess of $100,000 and a minimum of one (1) additional case in excess of $50,000 involving admiralty/maritime injury matters.
Level 3: Probable Damage Evaluation in Excess of $250,000
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with at least three (3) cases in excess of $250,000 and a minimum of one (1) additional case in excess of $100,000 involving admiralty/maritime injury matters.
Defamation/Invasion of Privacy
Level 1: Probable Damage Evaluation Less Than $50,000
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with at least one (1) personal injury case through trial and completed a minimum of four (4) matters involving defamation or invasion of privacy.
Level 2: Probable Damage Evaluation of UP To $250,000
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with at least three (3) cases in excess of $100,000 and a minimum of one (a) additional case in excess of $50,000 involving defamation or invasion of privacy.
Level 3: Probable Damage Evaluation in Excess of $250,000
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with at least three (3) cases in excess of $250,000 and a minimum of one (1) additional case in excess of $100,000 involving defamation or invasion of privacy.
Malpractice: Dental, Legal, Medical, Other
Level 1: Probable Damage Evaluation Less Than $50,000
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with at least two (2) personal injury cases through trial and at least two (2) additional malpractice cases.
Level 2: Probable Damage Evaluation of UP To $250,000
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with at least three (3) cases in excess of $100,000 and a minimum of one (1) additional case in excess of $50,000 involving malpractice.
Level 3: Probable Damage Evaluation in Excess of $250,000
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with at least three (3) cases in excess of $250,000 and a minimum of one (1) additional case in excess of $100,000 involving malpractice.
Sexual Assault/Childhood Sexual Abuse
Level 1: Probable Damage Evaluation Less Than $50,000
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with at least two (2) personal injury cases through trial and two (2) additional cases involving sexual assault or childhood sexual abuse.
Level 2: Probable Damage Evaluation of up To $250,000
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with at least three (3) cases in excess of $100,000 and a minimum of one (1) additional case in excess of $50,000 involving sexual assault or childhood sexual abuse.
Level 3: Probable Damage Evaluation in Excess of $250,000
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have been counsel of record and personally performed or supervised all legal work and prepared, or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with at least three (3) cases in excess of $250,000 and a minimum of one (1) additional case in excess of $100,000 involving sexual assault or childhood sexual abuse.
Dependency Court Tort Potential Clients
To receive dependency court tort potential clients (as determined by the court), applicant must meet the qualifications standards set forth for the sub-panel in which applicant wishes to receive potential clients. In addition, applicant must abide by the Dependency Court Tort policy and have been attorney of record in five (5) cases involving a minor within the past five (5) years in Superior Court (or the equivalent in another jurisdiction) or U.S. District Court.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
TRUSTS AND ESTATES QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Wills, Trusts, and Estates Sub-panels
Conservatorships
Durable Powers of Attorney (excluding Healthcare)
Elder Law (Long-term Planning for Care/Treatment)
Estate, Trust & Tax Planning
Probate and Estate Administration
Will Contests
Will Drafting (Simple)
Certified Specialist
Certified specialists are exempt from meeting experience requirements in their respective panels.
Experience Requirements
Conservatorships
Applicant must have personally performed all legal work in connection with at least two (2) conservatorship matters, including securing the appointment of the conservator and issuance of letters of conservatorship, and the preparation of at least one (1) formal accounting in such matter.
Durable Powers of Attorney (excluding Healthcare)
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of at least ten (10) durable powers of attorney in connection with estate planning.
Elder Law (Long-term Planning for Care/Treatment)
Applicant must meet the requirements of the Estate, Trust and Tax Planning sub-panel-Level 1, and within the past three (3) years, must have personally performed all legal work and completed five (5) matters involving planning for long-term care/treatment. Applicant must have a good knowledge of “Elder Law” issues, including public benefits and entitlements programs (Social Security, Social Security Income, MediCare, and MediCal).
Estate, Trust & Tax Planning
Level 1: Estate up to $1,000,000 for Individuals and $2,000,000 for Couples
Applicant must meet the requirements for the Will Drafting (Simple) sub-panel, and within the past three (3) years, must have personally performed all legal work in connection with the preparation of at least five (5) estates.
Level 2: Estates over $1,000,000for Individuals and over $2,000,000 for Couples; or Family Business. Special Needs Trusts, or Disinheritance of Spouse or Child
Applicant must meet the requirements set in Level 1, plus have completed at least three (3) estate plans involving estates with assets over $1,000,000 for an individual or over $2,000,000 for a couple and six (6) reciprocal trusts that incorporated a marital deduction trust or other federal estate tax planning device.
Probate & Estate Administration
Indicate level(s) in which you are qualified and wish to receive potential clients (e.g., if you qualify for all three levels, but only wish to receive level 3 potential clients, select level 3):
Level 1: Estates up to $1,000,000
Applicant must have personally performed all legal work in connection with at least four (4) probate court proceedings, including at least two (2) probates of decedents’ estate through judgment of final distribution.
Level 2: Estates over $1,000,000 and up to $2,000,000
Applicant must meet the requirements for Level 1 and, must have completed probate administration of five (5) estates with assets of more than $1,000,000.
Level 3: Estates over $2,000,000or Multinational Assets and Highly Complex Issues
Applicant must meet the requirements set in Level 2; must have completed eight (8) estates, two (2) of which were at Level 3; and devote fifty percent of his/her practice to matters concerning wills, trusts and estates or be an Estate Planning Certified Specialist.
Will Contests
Applicant must meet the requirements for the Will Drafting (Simple) sub-panel and, within the past four (4) years, have personally performed all legal work in connection with at least two (2) will contests.
Will Drafting (Simple)
This sub-panel applies to estates of $100,000 or less with all assets in California. Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work in connection with the drafting and execution of at least five (5) wills.
Dependency Court Probate Potential Clients
To receive potential clients of probate cases, applicant must meet the qualifications standards set forth for this sub-panel.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS
Workers’ Compensation Sub-panels
Appeals
Defense
Federal
State
Certified Specialist
Certified specialists are exempt from meeting experience requirements in their respective panels.
Experience Requirements
Appeals
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared,or supervised preparation of, all papers in connection with at least ten (10) industrial compensation cases involving 10 different claimants, from application through findings and award, and have handled at least seven (7) petitions for reconsideration.
Defense
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised preparation of all papers in connection with at least five (5) defense proceedings.
Federal
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised preparation of all papers in connection with at least five (5) proceedings in the particular area of federal law involved.
State
Within the past three (3) years, applicant must have personally performed all legal work and prepared or supervised the preparation of all papers in connection with at least five (5) California industrial compensation cases involving five (5) different claimants from application through findings and award, including at least one (1) case that involved a Petition for Reconsideration. In addition, applicant must be knowledgeable as to the related areas of benefits and rights to which an injured worker may be entitled.
Request for Exemption
If you do not qualify for a specific standard but believe because of your experience and knowledge you are otherwise qualified to receive potential clients through this panel, indicate the title of the sub-panel, the specific experience criteria that you do not meet, and detail your experience and knowledge and describe how you are otherwise qualified.