Lawyer Profile

Marian P. McCulloch

Allen Dell, P.A.

Recognized Since:

2007
Recognized in:

Family Law
Website:

http://www.allendell.com
Phone:

(813) 223.5351
E-mail:

mmcculloch@allendell.com
Location:

202 South Rome Avenue, Suite 100

Tampa, FL 33606

Marian is Board Certified in Marital & Family Law by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education, and confines her practice exclusively to marital and family law matters including complex dissolution of marriage litigation and negotiation, mediation, child custody, parenting plans and timesharing, paternity actions and modern family formation and divorce. She works as a Collaborative attorney in divorce matters when clients seek more privacy and is a Family Law Mediator. AV rated preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell.

Marian is a founding member and Master of the Family Law Inn of Tampa, American Inns of Court, previously serving as Secretary of the Executive Council, 1995-2000. She is a member and former co-chair of the Collaborative Divorce Lawyers of Tampa Bay.

In Florida Super Lawyers since 2006, she is featured in the Top 50 Woman Florida Super Lawyers 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2014; Top 100 Florida Super Lawyers 2009; Best Lawyers in America in the specialty of Family Law since 2008; Tampa Bay Magazine's Top Lawyers in marital litigation, 2010: Florida Trend's Florida Legal Elite in the area of Marital & Family Law, 2004-06.

Marian served on the Florida Bar’s Marital & Family Law Certification Committee and on its Certification Grade Review Panel in 2006. She served on The Florida Bar’s Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL) Committee (1991-96) and on the Thirteenth Circuit Fee Arbitration Committee (1994-97). At the local level she has served on many committees, including chairing the Hillsborough County Bar Association’s Long Range Planning Committee (1997-98) and its Gender, Racial and Ethnic Bias Committee (1992-94).

She was President of the Hillsborough County Bar Association in 2003-2004, and served on its board 1995-2005. She was the recipient of the Red McEwen Award for outstanding support in 1999 and again in 2002. She served as Editor-in-Chief of the Lawyer Magazine (1999-2003 and 2004-2007). She is the Past-Chair (2000-2001) of the Marital & Family Law Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association and served as President of the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers (1992-93) on the Board of Directors and as an officer (1986-95).

Marian has appeared as a speaker or moderator at numerous legal education courses, including the Florida Bar’s 2009 Family Law Review Course, and as a workshop leader at The Florida Bar Matrimonial Trial Advocacy Seminars (1998, 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2007).

Ms. McCulloch is a graduate of the University of South Florida (B.A. 1976) and of Stetson University College of Law (J.D. 1979), where she served as a member of the Stetson Law Review and as Editor of the Stetson Prelude (1978-79). She was admitted to practice in Florida in 1980.

Lawyer Bio

Bar Admissions:

Florida, 1980

Affiliations:

• Family Law Inn of Tampa, founding member and Master, American Inn of Court - Secretary of the Executive Council, 1995-2000
Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers - Member since 1981
International Association of Collaborative Professionals - Member
Tampa Bay Academy of Collaborative Professionals - Member
The Florida Bar Family Law Section - Member
The Hillsborough County Bar Association - Member since 1980

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:

Family Law

Areas of Expertise:

Collaborative Law
Divorce
Mediation

Additional Information:

Board Certified in Marital & Family Law

Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by the Florida Board of Legal Specialization and Education. Certification is the highest level of evaluation by The Florida Bar of competency and experience within an area of law, and professionalism and ethics in practice. Approximately only 7%, about 5,010 Florida lawyers are recognized as specialists in one or more of 26 certification areas. Board certification is a voluntary program for lawyers. Approved by The Florida Supreme Court and established in 1982 board certification is administered by The Florida Bar to help the public choose a lawyer. Certification is the highest level of evaluation by The Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in the areas of law approved for certification. The Florida Bar evaluates all certified lawyers for experience and expertise in a particular area of law as well as for professionalism and peer acknowledgement. After successfully undergoing the certification process and becoming board certified, a board certified lawyer may say that they have been "Evaluated for Professionalism and Tested for Expertise." The first certifications available were in civil trial and tax law. Board certification has now grown to include over 4500 lawyers in 26 areas of law including: admiralty and maritime law; adoption law; antitrust and trade regulation law; appellate practice; aviation law; business litigation; city, county and local government law; civil trial; Condominium and Planned Development; construction law; criminal appellate; criminal trial; education law; elder law; health law; immigration and nationality; intellectual property law; international law; juvenile law; labor and employment law; marital and family law; real estate; state and federal government and administrative practice; tax law; wills, trusts and estates; and workers’ compensation. The Board of Legal Specialization and Education (BLSE) of The Florida Bar governs the rules and policies for each of the certification areas and oversees the committees that implement each area’s standards. A lawyer must be a member in good standing of the Florida Bar and meet the area’s prescribed standards to become board certified. Standards for each area vary but each area maintains common minimum standards including: - A minimum of five years in law practice. - Substantial involvement in the field of law for which certification is sought. - A passing grade on the examination required of all applicants. - Satisfactory peer review assessment of competence in the specialty field as well as character, ethics and professionalism in the practice of law. - Satisfaction of the certification area’s continuing legal education requirements. Board certification is valid for five years, during which time the attorney must continue to practice law and attend Florida Bar approved continuing education courses. To be recertified lawyers must meet requirements similar to those for initial certification. "Lawyers strive for excellence in every endeavor," said BLSE Chair Cynthia Johnson-Stacks. "Board certification is the natural progression of this innate desire. This highest of achievements not only benefits the individual lawyer, but by encouraging lawyers to hone their skills and practice with professionalism, the certification program is a great service to The Florida Bar and the public." Board certification establishes an independent measure of competence, professionalism and peer acknowledgement which helps clients and fellow lawyers set expectations for professional abilities. This level of verifiable expertise can help both prospective clients and counsel seeking to refer legal matters and can help lawyers grow their practice with matters in which they can best utilize their expertise. Board certified lawyers are offered lower malpractice insurance rates. Certification serves as an impetus toward investing energy and thought necessary for future growth and professional contribution. Because continued certification requires satisfaction of specific standards and peer affirmation, others can be assured that the certified lawyer remains committed to excellence. "Members of the public may feel confident that when they speak with a board certified lawyer, they are speaking with an expert in the field," said Jack Pelzer, 2013-2015 BLSE Chair. "Board certification not only recognizes past accomplishments and expertise, but provides opportunities for further growth in an area of specialization through interaction with other dedicated and exceptional lawyers."