A Certified Family Specialist is more than just an attorney that specializes in a particular area of the law. A California Certified Family Law Specialist must have taken and passed a written examination in their specialty field, demonstrated a high level of experience in the specialty field, fulfilled ongoing education requirements, and been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with their work. Once the attorney has demonstrated that he or she has met the above rigorous standards, they must be evaluated by a panel of experts before becoming certified.