why choose a board certified lawyer

What is Board Certification and Why is it Important?

Board certification is voluntary program run by a State Bar Association which recognizes attorneys’ special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice.  Board Certified lawyers have met the Florida Bar's highest standards after rigorously evaluating their experience and competency in one of 26 practice areas.  

Board certification's stringent requirements for legal expertise and professional conduct give the public objective standards by which to evaluate attorneys.

As of 2024, there are only approximately 80 lawyers in the entire State of Florida hold the esteemed status of a Board Certified Specialist in Immigration & Nationality Law.  Partner Sasha Westerman-Keuning is one of these few elite attorneys who has been Board Certified as an Expert in Immigration Law by the Florida Bar.    When you hire our law firm, you can know that you are in expert hands.  

How did Sasha become Board Certified?

First, she applied to sit for the Board Certification exam with the Florida Bar which began a six month vetting process into her background, credentials and ethics.  The Florida Bar investigated her ethical character, reputation as a leading immigration attorney in Florida, and legal skills.  Once satisfied that she met the ethical and reputational character requirements, she was invited to take the 8-hour board certification exam which tested her knowledge of all aspects of immigration law from inadmissibility statutes to removal proceedings to work visas to citizenship and family petitions. 

Sasha took the Board Certification exam in 2017 when she was only 33 years old.  That year, she was the only attorney in the State to pass this rigorous examination which at the time, made her the youngest attorney in the State to pass the immigration board certification exam.  Sasha was re-certified by the Florida Bar in 2022, when she had to again show that she continued to meet the highest ethical standards for practicing law and demonstrate that she maintained an excellent reputation for leadership and expertise in the immigration law community.  Sasha currently holds Board Certification status until June 2027.