- The Florida Supreme Court approved Insurance Coverage Law as a new board certification specialty, effective January 1, 2027.
- Applicants must have at least five years of legal practice, devote 40% of their work to insurance coverage law, complete 50 hours of continuing legal education and pass an examination.
- More than 250 Florida attorneys expressed interest in certification, supported by legal associations and consumer advocacy organizations.
The Florida Supreme Court has approved a new board certification specialty in Insurance Coverage Law, establishing formal standards for attorneys practicing in the increasingly complex field of insurance disputes and coverage interpretation.
In its October 8 opinion, the court adopted Rule 6-32, “Standards for Board Certification in Insurance Coverage Law,” with the new certification taking effect on January 1, 2027.
The ruling establishes eligibility requirements, minimum professional standards and recertification procedures. The court made three modifications to the Florida Bar’s proposal, including changes concerning recognition of an LL.M. degree in insurance law and clarification of the period used to demonstrate substantial involvement in the specialty.
The initiative was led by Tampa insurance attorney Debbie Crockett, co-chair of the Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section’s Insurance and Surety Committee.
Crockett submitted the application in August 2024 following several hurricane seasons and mounting challenges in Florida’s property insurance market.
My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner. However, I couldn’t have anticipated several years ago the insurance crisis that the state is facing.
Debbie Crockett, co-chair of the Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section’s Insurance and Surety Committee
Her special committee spent months consulting Florida Bar sections, divisions and committees, securing expressions of interest from more than 250 attorneys who indicated they would pursue certification.
The Board of Legal Specialization and Education approved the proposal in January, followed by unanimous approval from the Board of Governors on September 19.
Michael Gelfand, a West Palm Beach attorney and longtime Board of Governors member, praised the initiative for strengthening professional standards and specialist legal knowledge.
What she has done is extraordinary in preparing the approval for a deep certification area. She and her colleagues have been extremely diligent in bringing forth what we are here for, and that is to encourage professionalism in both ethics and substantive knowledge.
Michael Gelfand, a West Palm Beach attorney and longtime Board of Governors member
The certification covers policy interpretation and construction, property and liability insurance, coverage litigation, reinsurance, and bad faith and extracontractual claims.
Additional areas include professional liability, directors and officers insurance, employment practices liability, excess and umbrella coverage, environmental insurance, workers’ compensation and builder’s risk.
Attorneys seeking certification must have practiced law for at least five years and demonstrate continuous, substantial involvement in insurance coverage matters, representing at least 40% of their practice during the preceding five years.
Candidates must also complete 50 hours of approved continuing legal education in insurance law and pass a certification examination.
The proposal received endorsements from the Florida Justice Association’s Property Insurance Section, the Florida Defense Lawyers Association and consumer advocacy organization United Policyholders.
Third District Court of Appeal Judge Kansas Gooden, chair of the Board of Legal Specialization and Education, previously identified the absence of insurance coverage certification as a gap in Florida’s legal specialization program.
“In Florida, we have always been the leader in board certification across the nation,” Gooden said. “In this area, we are not.”
Supporters identified only two comparable insurance coverage law certification programs nationwide, operating in Texas and Ohio.
