With over 87,000 lawyers practicing in the State of Florida, how do you choose the right lawyer? A good place to start is to choose one who is board-certified.  Certification is the highest level of recognition by The Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys.  

       Less than 2% of Florida's 87,000 lawyers are board-certified in civil trial law. Civil trial law is the field of law that addresses litigation of civil disputes in all areas of the law before state and federal courts, administrative agencies and arbitrators.

       While any lawyer can advertise on television, on the Internet, or on a billboard, not all lawyers are board-certified. A board-certified civil trial lawyer is a specialist who has the experience and the expertise to take your case to trial when a favorable settlement cannot be reached. 

       Tom Bates is a board-certified civil trial lawyer.