Law Office of Paul A. Bernardini

Paul Bernardini received an academic scholarship to attend the College of Law at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio and graduated in 1966. While in Law School, Mr. Bernardini was an Associate Editor of the Ohio State Law Journal (Author, The Federal Approach-Constitutional Grounds for Relief, 27 Ohio State Law Journal 321 (Spring 1966)). While in Law School, Mr. Bernardini had the honor of being the Research Assistant to two high profile professors at the same time. Mr. Bernardini was a Research Assistant to Dean Ivan Rutledge (Constitutional Law) and also held the position as the Research Assistant to the head of the Property Department, Professor Robert Lynn. While in Law School, Mr. Bernardini also served as a Judge on The Ohio State University Student Court. Mr. Bernardini has been a member of the Ohio Bar since 1966 and spent the first year of his practice in General Law with the prestigious firm of Roetzel & Andress in Akron, Ohio. Mr. Bernardini has been a member of the National Counsel of the College of Law at The Ohio State University for over 20 years.

In 1967, Mr. Bernardini was admitted to practice law in the Supreme Court of Florida. In 1972, Mr. Bernardini was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States. Mr. Bernardini is authorized to practice in all Federal Courts in Florida as well as the Court of Appeal for our Circuit. He has been Chairman of the Ethics Committee, Secretary of the Volusia County Bar and President of Volusia County Bar. While Mr. Bernardini was President of Volusia County Bar Association, the Association earned a very large award because of work done by Mr. Bernardini in beginning a legal aid clinic to provide legal services for the poor. This legal aid clinic has been in service in the community for over 30 years and is often used as a model in other jurisdictions as a means of furnishing legal services to the poor and needy.

Lawyers are rated by Judges and other lawyers. The Judges and lawyers of Florida have rated Mr. Bernardini with the highest possible legal ability and the highest possible Ethics. He is rated “AV Preeminent.” According to Martindale Hubbell, the AV Preeminent rating is a pinnacle of professional excellence earned through a strenuous peer review rating process that is managed and monitored by the world’s most trusted legal source, Martindale Hubbell. Mr. Bernardini’s AV Preeminent legal rating has been extended through the 2014 calendar year.

In addition, the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization has had programs in place since 1983 to assist the general public in selecting a lawyer. This is known as the Board of Legal Specialization or Board Certification. The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education operates under the authority of the Supreme Court of Florida. If you do need a lawyer, you obviously want a lawyer who is able to handle your particular legal situation and who has expertise in the area of law relating to your needs. To assist you in finding such a lawyer, the Supreme Court of Florida directed the Florida Bar to offer a “Board Certification” program for Florida Bar members. The program is designed to help the public make an informed decision when seeking and selecting a lawyer.

While all lawyers are allowed to advertise, only Certified Lawyers are allowed to identify themselves as “Florida Bar Board Certified,” as a specialist, or as an expert. Certification is the highest level of recognition by the Florida Bar for the competency and experience of attorneys in the area of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida.

To be certified, the lawyer is required is required to have conducted at least 15 contested civil cases in courts of general jurisdiction during the lawyer’s practice, including cases before a jury trial and as lead counsel. Credit is given to the lawyer if he or she has served as a judge.

Every Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer has practiced law on a full time basis for at least five years and has been substantially involved - 30% or more - in the area of Civil Trial Law during the three years preceding application.

Each certified lawyer must also have passed peer review, completed 50 hours of Continuing Legal Education within the three years preceding application and passed a written examination demonstrating knowledge, skills and proficiency in the field of civil trial law to justify the representation of special competence.

Board Certification is valid for five years, during which time the attorney must continue to practice law and attend Florida Bar - approved continuing legal education courses. To be recertified, requirements similar to those for initial certification must be met. Not all qualified lawyers are certified, but those who are board certified have taken the extra step to have the competence and experience recognized.

No matter how much experience a lawyer may have in civil trial, only board certified civil trial lawyers are allowed to identify themselves as specialists or experts in this area of law.

The Supreme Court of Florida approved the board certification program as a way to help consumers make informed decisions when selecting lawyers. Board certification’s stringent requirements for legal expertise and professional conduct give the public objective standards by which to evaluate attorneys.

Certified lawyers in civil trial law deal with litigation of civil controversies in all areas of substantive law before State and Federal Courts, administrative agencies and arbitrators. In addition to actual pretrial and trial process, civil trial law includes evaluating, handling and resolving civil disagreements prior to the initiation of a lawsuit.

When you hire a trial lawyer, you are represented by a lawyer who has:

* practiced law for at least five years;

* actively participated in the specialty of civil trial - 50 percent or more-during the three years immediately preceding application;

* conducted at least 15 contested civil cases in courts of general jurisdiction, including cases before juries as lead counsel and as trier of fact on some or all the issues;

* been evaluated for competency and professionalism by judges and peers;

* completed 50 hours of continuing legal education within the three years immediately preceding application; and,

* passed a written examination demonstrating knowledge, skills, and proficiency in the field of civil trial to justify the representation of special competence in this area of law to the legal profession and to the public.

In addition to being rated AV preeminent, Mr. Bernardini is also recognized by the Judges and legal community of Orange County as one of the top lawyers in Orlando, even though our main office is in Ormond Beach.