There are 423 lawyers in Okaloosa County and 181 lawyers in Walton County. Out of 504 attorneys, only two are certified specialists in criminal law. Santa Rosa County has 213 lawyers and no certified criminal law specialists. Escambia County has 1,120 attorneys and 6 board certified specialists. 1,737 attorneys in the First Judicial Circuit yet only 8 are certified as experts in criminal law by the Florida Bar. 

If you are looking for the best of the best in any area of law, certification by the Florida Bar is the only credential that matters. “Google Garbage”, such as “Google Screened” doesn't mean anything in terms of legal skill. The Florida Bar doesn't even consider it. In fact, Google Garbage is why there are so few lawyers striving to become the best: Florida Bar Board Certified Specialists.

Let's look at the different requirements for certification and “Google Screened” garbage.

This is from the Florida Bar website:

“Minimum standards for criminal trial law certification, provided in Rule 6-8.3, include:

1. Practice of law for at least five years;

2. Substantial involvement in the specialty of criminal trial law — 30% or more — during the three years immediately preceding application;

3. Handling of at least 25 contested criminal cases, with 20 jury trials, tried to a verdict, 15 which involved a felony, and 10 as lead counsel;

4. 45 hours of approved criminal trial law certification continuing legal education in the three years immediately preceding application;
Peer review; and,

5. A written examination.”

Peer review: this is not a social media like or comment. This is several pages of a detailed, written review responding to numerous questions about the applicant's ability.

Trials: what the Bar is looking for is case experience with “serious and complex cases” with the felony trial experience requirement. Plea bargains don't count.

A written examination: this test is two days long, 8 hours a day and significantly harder than the Bar exam. Most people pass the Florida Bar exam. Most people fail the criminal trial law certification exam which explains why “Google Screened” is more popular. 

So, what are the requirements of “Google Screened”? The Google monopoly says:

“Businesses with the Google Screened badge have passed license checks (where licenses are required). Some businesses are also required to pass background checks and show proof of insurance. Checks are conducted by Local Service Ads, our trusted partners, or state regulatory bodies. Local Service Ads verifies that professional licenses are current both when businesses join Local Services and periodically on an ongoing basis.”

In other words, “Google Screened” has nothing to do with actually helping you find the best lawyer for your needs. It's all about the money. “Local Services Ads” are referenced three times. The most Google Screened will tell you about a lawyer's skill and ability is that they have a Bar license. They never asked for my professional license or any background check - the Bar requires a background check conducted by the FBI. 

Google Garbage has had a profound impact on consumers misleading millions every day. Remember, Google lost an anti-trust suit as an illegal monopoly. Google is an untrustworthy financial predator. Worse, your legal fees are sky high because the cost of a single pay per click ad can be hundreds of dollars for a single click and it often takes many, many clicks for a single client.  

Who pays for these garbage clicks and search engine marketing? You do. Most criminal defense law firms have had to raise their fees repeatedly due to the cost of marketing. It works like this:

a) The law firms hires a new marketing company, 50% search engine marketing and 50% pay per click at monopoly pricing.

b) The marketing company puts a lot of people on the law firm website and business improves. 

c) The marketing company takes the labor off and business declines. 

d) The law firm owner asks point blank “why are my revenues down?”

e) The marketing company replies, “you need to spend more money”.

f) Go back to (b) and repeat until the law firm goes out of business or clients cannot afford to hire a lawyer for anything.

This has happened to every single criminal defense lawyer I know. Google and search engine marketing are a spiraling cost because the super wealthy always demand that profits grow. The price will only increase.  The extortionate cost of advertising means increasingly high prices for the consumer.

If you are not in the First Judicial Circuit (Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton Counties), use the Florida Bar to help you find the best criminal defense attorneys.

Simply go to the Floridabar.org website and click “Find a lawyer” as shown in photograph 1.

Next, substitute “City” for a county. There are so few certified criminal defense attorneys you may have to select a neighboring county if in a low population area. After selecting a county name, click “board certifications”. This will list every area of certification for lawyers who specialize in 29 different areas of law. Select “criminal trial law” and a list will appear unless there are no certified lawyers in your county. This is how you find the best criminal defense attorneys in Florida. 

If you would like to schedule some time to speak with me about a legal matter, here are the simple steps to follow:

1. Go to cobblawfirm.com and answer a few questions.

2. When you “Submit” the answers, a calendar will pop up. Schedule an appointment.

3. If you need an appointment earlier than what the calendar shows, select an appointment anyway - if you answered “yes” for an earlier appointment, we will do everything possible to speak to you immediately.

Stephen G. Cobb, BCS has been certified by the Florida Bar since 2002 in criminal trial law