What Does “Board Certified” Mean?

When you have a legal problem, do you check the qualifications of the lawyer you hire? Florida Bar board certification is one of the clearest ways to do exactly that.

“It is the highest level of recognition by The Florida Bar for the competency and experience of a lawyer practicing in a specialty area of law.”

— The Florida Bar

Fewer than 1% of Florida attorneys are board certified in any specialty.

How a Lawyer Becomes Board Certified

Florida Bar board-certified lawyers must:

• Be evaluated for professionalism by their peers — the judges and lawyers who have seen their work firsthand;
• Demonstrate skill and expertise in the specialty area through rigorous examination and testing;
• Be substantially involved in the specialty area of certification.

In other words, when The Florida Bar board certifies a lawyer, it has independently verified the attorney’s special knowledge, skills and proficiency in that area of law, and their professionalism and ethics, in their practice.

What This Means for Your Case

Attorney Tonmiel Rodriguez is Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law by The Florida Bar. That certification is not a marketing label — it is The Florida Bar’s independent verification that he meets the Bar’s standards for experience, skill, and professionalism in criminal trial practice. When your freedom is on the line, that gives you a meaningful, verifiable way to evaluate who is handling your case.

You can confirm any lawyer’s certification directly with The Florida Bar at FloridaBar.org.

Legally reviewed by Tonmiel Rodriguez — last reviewed June 2026.