In North Carolina, there are 1,091 Board Certified Specialists in a community of 28,200 lawyers. Charlotte attorney Mallory Willink was recently recognized as a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law by the North Carolina State Bar. Mrs. Willink, an attorney at the firm of Conrad Trosch & Kemmy, P.A. concentrates her legal practice in many areas of Family Law which can be found in her bio.
She received her BS Degree from West Virginia University and her JD from The Charlotte School of Law. Mallory has been a very active member in the community. She is also extremely active professionally.
The North Carolina State Bar, an agency of the State of North Carolina, certifies lawyers as specialists in designated practice areas as a service to the public. The program assists members of the public in the selection of legal counsel by identifying lawyers who have demonstrated special knowledge, skill, and proficiency in certain areas of law. The program also gives lawyers a credible way of making their expertise known to the public and other lawyers.
To be certified as a board-certified specialist in a practice area, a lawyer must
- Be an active member in good standing with the North Carolina State Bar for at least five years,
- Devote at least 25% of his or her practice to the specialty during the past five years (substantial involvement),
- Attend continuing legal education (CLE) seminars in the specialty,
- Be favorably evaluated by other lawyers and judges (peer review), and
- Pass a written examination in the specialty practice area.
Certification is granted for a period of five years. To maintain certification, a lawyer must again demonstrate that he or she is substantially involved in the practice area; attend CLE seminars in the practice area, and be favorably evaluated by peers.