§ 2.05 Applications for Certification
2.05. Applications for Certification
(a) Form and Content. Applications shall be submitted on forms approved by the BLSE. Each question shall be answered or shown as “not applicable.” All applications and the information contained therein shall be sworn to by the applicant as being true and complete. Only completed applications will be substantively reviewed and the accuracy of the information verified.
(b) Completion of Requirements. An applicant shall complete all requirements prior to filing an application; provided, however:
(1) the examination shall be completed after application filing;
(2) certain continuing legal education requirements may be completed after application filing, if satisfactory proof of completion of the educational program is furnished to the BLSE prior to the application filing deadline or to an extended deadline as approved by BLSE; and
(3) The 5-year practice of law requirement may be completed after application filing, but no later than November 30 of the year in which application is made.
(c) Supplemental Information. To ascertain entitlement to certification, the BLSE or committee may require an applicant to provide information in addition to that called for on the application form, including requiring an applicant to submit to a personal interview before the BLSE, the committee, any of its individual members, or any authorized representative.
(d) Application Revisions or Corrections. Applicants shall be advised of their continuing obligation to notify the LSE department should there be any change to any response provided within the application after filing. Incomplete applications will be returned.
(e) Timeliness of Filing. The application filing periods shall be determined by the BLSE. Unless an extension is granted by the BLSE, all applications must be postmarked by midnight of the last day of the application filing period to be considered for that annual class. Filing periods have been established as follows:
July 1--August 31
Aviation Law
Appellate Practice
Civil Trial
Marital & Family
Admiralty & Maritime
Tax
Immigration & Nationality
International Law
Elder Law
Labor & Employment Law
September 1--October 31
Criminal Trial/Appellate
Workers' Compensation
Health Law
Wills, Trusts & Estates
Real Estate
Business Litigation
City, County & Local Government
Antitrust & Trade Regulation
Construction Law
Intellectual Property Law
State and Federal Government and Administrative Practice
(f) Recertification File Extension. A 1-time 3-month recertification file extension may be authorized by the BLSE upon
application and payment of the appropriate fee. If granted, such extension shall commence on the applicant's current certification expiration date. The applicant must agree to complete all outstanding requirements for recertification before the end of the 3-month extension and confirm understanding that if the requirements are not met, no further extensions will be permitted and the fee may not be refunded.
(g) Processing. Staff shall conduct a preliminary review of each application prior to committee review.
(1) An applicant with a deficient application will be notified by staff in writing prior to committee review to correct and/or update any omissions.
(2) Only complete applications shall be substantively reviewed.
(3) Omissions or inaccuracies in the completion and submission of application forms may be grounds for denial.
(h) Withdrawal of Application. An application for certification or recertification may be withdrawn in writing by the applicant at any time prior to final BLSE action.
(i) Application Retention. Applications will be retained for a period of 1 year from the date of certification or recertification, at which time they will be disposed of in a confidential manner.