Deana Fleming was recently recognized as a Board Certified Specialist in Child Welfare Law by the North Carolina State Bar.

Deana has over 20 years of experience in the field of child welfare. Prior to entering her current law practice, she served 13 years at the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) working both for the Guardian ad Litem Program and as an Assistant General Counsel. Before working for AOC, Deana represented parents in abuse, neglect, dependency, and termination of parental rights proceedings as an Assistant Public Defender and as an appointed indigent counsel in Durham County. Before practicing law, Deana had the privilege of serving as a volunteer guardian ad litem and family court intern while in Law School. Deana’s commitment to the field of child welfare as well as the families and children involved, continues to be her primary focus and is further enhanced by her recognition as a Board Certified Specialist in Child Welfare Law.

The North Carolina State Bar, an agency of the State of North Carolina, certifies lawyers as specialists in designated practice areas as a service to the public. The program assists members of the public in the selection of legal counsel by identifying lawyers who have demonstrated special knowledge, skill, and proficiency in certain areas of law. The program also gives lawyers a credible way of making their expertise known to the public and other lawyers.

To be certified as a board certified specialist in a practice area, a lawyer must

• Be an active member in good standing with the North Carolina State Bar for at least five years,
• Devote at least 25% of his or her practice to the specialty during the past five years (substantial involvement),
• Attend continuing legal education (CLE) seminars in the specialty,
• Be favorably evaluated by other lawyers and judges (peer review), and
• Pass a written examination in the specialty practice area.

Certification is granted for a period of five years. To maintain certification, a lawyer must again demonstrate that he or she is substantially involved in the practice area; attend CLE seminars in the practice area; and be favorably evaluated by peers.

For more information about the North Carolina Legal Specialization program, and to view a list of board certified specialists by practice area, please visit the Legal Specialization website at nclawspecialists.gov, or call the State Bar at 919.828.4620.