FL Criminal Trial Specialist
Florida Bar Board Certification - Criminal Trial Law
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Cheat sheet
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ExploreKey terms
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ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
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ExploreCase studies
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ExploreExam-day guide
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ExploreAbout this exam
This page is an independent study guide for the Florida Bar Board Certification program in Criminal Trial Law, a specialty credential offered by The Florida Bar to Florida lawyers who want to demonstrate advanced competence in criminal trial practice. The credential is aimed at practicing criminal defense attorneys and prosecutors who already handle felony and misdemeanor trials and want a recognized mark of specialization that distinguishes them from general practitioners. The exam is designed to test substantive and procedural criminal law, pretrial practice, trial practice, evidence, and ethics and professionalism as they arise in Florida criminal litigation. Preparation should be built around those domains: review current Florida statutes, rules of criminal procedure, evidence code provisions, and professionalism standards, then practice applying them to realistic trial scenarios. Note that this page is not affiliated with The Florida Bar. The Bar's own certification page for this program returned a 'not found' error when checked on November 5, 2026, so verified details on format, length, scoring, fees, and eligibility could not be confirmed from the official source. Candidates should confirm all logistics directly with The Florida Bar before applying or scheduling.
What you'll study
About FL Criminal Trial Specialist preparation
What is the Florida Criminal Trial Law certification?
It is a board certification specialty credential from The Florida Bar for lawyers who demonstrate advanced skill in criminal trial practice, covering substantive and procedural law, pretrial and trial practice, evidence, and ethics. This page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with The Florida Bar.
Who should pursue this credential?
Florida-licensed lawyers who regularly try criminal cases, whether for the defense or the state, and who want a recognized specialization credential. It suits attorneys with substantial trial experience who intend to build a criminal trial practice and want to signal expertise to clients and courts.
What does the exam cover?
The single published domain is Criminal Trial Law, spanning substantive and procedural law, pretrial practice, trial practice, evidence, and ethics and professionalism. Expect questions that require applying Florida rules to realistic litigation scenarios rather than pure recall of definitions.
How long is the exam and how many questions are there?
Unconfirmed. The Florida Bar's certification page for this program returned a 'not found' error when retrieved on November 5, 2026, so no verified question count or duration is available. Check with The Florida Bar directly before planning your timing.
What score do I need to pass?
Unconfirmed. No passing score is published in the available source. Treat any figure you see elsewhere as unverified and confirm the current standard with The Florida Bar's certification office before you rely on it.
What happens if I fail - can I retake it?
Unconfirmed. The available source contains no retake policy. Contact The Florida Bar's certification department to learn the current reapplication rules, waiting periods, and any limits on attempts before you submit an application.
How should I order my study?
Start with substantive and procedural criminal law, then move to evidence, then pretrial and trial practice, and finish with ethics and professionalism. Practice applying rules to fact patterns throughout, since the exam tests judgment in realistic scenarios rather than isolated definitions.
What are common failure modes?
Weak spots typically include evidence rulings, preservation and objection issues, procedural deadlines, and professionalism questions. Candidates who only memorize rules without practicing application to fact patterns tend to struggle. Build practice around scenario-based questions and review why each wrong answer fails.