If you’re searching for a construction attorney in Florida, you’ve probably seen the phrase “Board Certified” attached to some lawyers’ names and not others. It’s not marketing language. It’s a formal credential awarded by The Florida Bar, and it means something specific and verifiable.
In short: Board Certification in Construction Law is The Florida Bar’s official recognition that an attorney has proven, tested expertise in construction law specifically, not just general practice experience. It’s the highest level of evaluation the Bar offers, and very few attorneys in the state hold it.
How Rare Is This Certification, Really?
The numbers make the point better than any marketing copy could.
The Florida Bar’s own certified attorney directory currently lists approximately 480 attorneys statewide who are Board Certified in Construction Law, out of more than 100,000 licensed attorneys in Florida. That works out to under half a percent of all Florida attorneys.
For context, Board Certification across all 27 specialty areas combined (real estate, criminal law, family law, business litigation, and so on) is held by fewer than 7% of eligible Florida Bar members. Construction law is one of the smaller and newer certification categories within that already-small group.
Locally, the numbers are even starker. A search of The Florida Bar’s official attorney directory, filtered by city and board certification, shows only two Board Certified Construction Law attorneys in Ocala, Florida: Sheryl Linn Dobek, who was certified in 2005, and John Martin, founder of Martin Law, PLLC. That means Martin is only the second attorney in Ocala to earn this certification in over two decades.
How Does an Attorney Actually Earn This Certification?
Board Certification isn’t awarded for passing the Bar exam or years in practice alone. Under Rule 6-24.3, an attorney seeking Board Certification in Construction Law must show that at least 40% of their practice involved construction law during the three years immediately preceding application, complete 45 hours of approved continuing legal education specifically in construction law during that same period, pass a peer review evaluating their work and reputation among other attorneys and judges, and pass a written examination covering construction law in depth.
Attorneys must also maintain the certification through ongoing education requirements. It isn’t a one-time credential; it has to be earned and kept current.
Board Certified vs. an Attorney Who “Handles” Construction Cases — What’s the Difference?
Many Florida attorneys list construction law as one of several practice areas. That doesn’t mean they’ve been evaluated or tested in it. Under Florida Bar advertising rules, only attorneys who have completed the certification process are permitted to describe themselves as “Board Certified” in a specific field, or use the designation “Specialist” in that area.
In practical terms, this means: a general practice attorney may take on a construction case alongside personal injury, family law, or other unrelated matters, while a Board Certified Construction Law attorney has demonstrated, through testing and peer review, a depth of knowledge specific to construction disputes, lien law, contract issues, and the statutes that govern the industry.
If you’re a property owner dealing with a lien, a defective build, or a contractor dispute, or a contractor navigating a payment or bonding issue, this distinction is worth asking about directly. It’s a fair question to ask any attorney: “Are you Board Certified in this area, or does your firm just handle these cases sometimes?”
Why This Matters If You’re a Property Owner or a Contractor
Construction disputes in Florida run on hard statutory deadlines: Chapter 713 lien timelines, Chapter 558 notice requirements for construction defects, the 45-day Notice to Owner window, and more. An attorney who works in this area exclusively, and has been tested and peer-reviewed on it, is less likely to miss a procedural detail that could cost you your claim.
Whether you’re a property owner dealing with a lien on your title or a contractor trying to understand your options after a payment dispute, working with a Board Certified attorney means working with someone whose expertise in this specific field has been independently verified, not just self-described.
Board Certified in Construction Law, Serving Ocala and Statewide
John Martin, founder of Martin Law, PLLC, is Board Certified in Construction Law by The Florida Bar, only the second attorney in Ocala to earn this certification in more than 20 years. Martin Law represents Florida contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, and property owners in construction disputes statewide.
If you have a construction law question, schedule a free consultation to talk directly with a Board Certified attorney, not a case manager or intake form.