Dayton Attorney Joseph Balmer Recertified as Specialist

The Ohio State Bar Association has recertified Joseph Balmer as a specialist in the area of estate planning, trust and probate law. Mr. Balmer manages the Probate and Administration Department at Dayton, Ohio, law firm Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues. He has been certified as a specialist for 10 years. Balmer is one of approximately 20 attorneys in the Dayton area to obtain this certification.

Attorneys licensed to practice in Ohio must have graduated from an accredited law school, passed an examination and attended continuing legal education courses required by the Ohio Supreme Court.

Those that practice largely in a particular area can go beyond the requirements and earn a specialty certification.
“Becoming certified as a specialist is one way for attorneys to strengthen their practice skills in a particular area of law,” said OSBA President John D. Holschuh Jr. “They can also use this designation to inform their clients of that expertise. The Ohio State Bar Association congratulates these attorneys who have successfully completed the certification process.”
For an attorney to become certified, they have to continue work in a particular field, submit five professional references on their competency in the specialty area, have earned a minimum of 36 hours of intermediate  or advanced continuing legal education credits in the specialty area during the past three years as part of the continuing legal education hours required of all attorneys, pass a written examination, prove financial responsibility by maintaining minimum professional liability insurance coverage and remain in good standing with the Ohio Supreme Court.
To maintain certification, OSBA certified specialists must file an annual report showing continued good standing, and every five years the specialist must apply to be re-certified.