A landmark recognition from the State Bar of California and The California Board of Legal Specialization
OFFICIAL RECOGNITION California Board of Legal Specialization — Certified Criminal Law Specialist since 1985. Re-certified eight times. Certificate on display. |
At Maas & Russo, LLP, we celebrate milestones with pride — but some achievements transcend the ordinary. This month, we are honored to recognize our Senior Partner, Daniel J. Russo, on a truly extraordinary distinction: 40 consecutive years as a Certified Criminal Law Specialist, recognized by the State Bar of California and The California Board of Legal Specialization.
Board certification in criminal law is among the most rigorous and selective designations in the California legal profession. The numbers speak for themselves:
- ~300,000 Licensed California Attorneys
- ~300 Certified Criminal Law Specialists
- 8× Re-certifications earned by Mr. Russo
That means fewer than one-tenth of one percent of California’s attorneys hold this credential. Mr. Russo has held it since 1985 — and has earned it again, eight times over.
“Of the approximately 300,000 lawyers, only approximately 300 have been certified as criminal law specialists. I am honored to have been certified since 1985 and re-certified eight times.” — Daniel J. Russo, Senior Partner |
Achieving certification is demanding. Maintaining it — for four full decades — requires an unrelenting commitment to staying at the forefront of criminal law: its statutes, its precedents, its evolution, and its deeply human stakes. Mr. Russo has met that standard every single time.
Beyond his own practice, Mr. Russo has given back to the profession in a direct and meaningful way. He proudly served on the California Committee on Specialization for Criminal Law for a three-year period — helping to shape and uphold the very standards by which criminal law specialists are evaluated statewide.
Managing Partner Thomas Maas expressed what so many at the firm feel:
“Dan, almost nobody makes it to 40 years of practice — but to find out you’ve been a certified criminal law specialist for 40 years is an amazing accomplishment!” — Thomas Maas, Managing Partner |
California’s criminal justice system has undergone sweeping changes over those four decades — sentencing reforms, landmark court decisions, shifts in prosecutorial policy, and an increasingly complex intersection of law and technology. Through it all, one thing has remained constant at Maas & Russo, LLP.
“With all the twists and turns in the justice system in California over 40 years since you achieved this honor, the one constant variable is your uniquely passionate pursuit of justice in the criminal law field. I am proud to be your partner.” — Thomas Maas, Managing Partner |
Those who know Dan Russo know that his commitment to criminal defense is not simply professional — it is personal. He is a bold man: bold for his clients when the stakes are highest, bold in the courtroom when it matters most, bold in our office in his pursuit of the right result, and bold in life in everything he does. That boldness, sustained and purposeful over four decades, is precisely what has made him one of California’s most respected criminal defense attorneys.
The California Board of Legal Specialization has issued Mr. Russo a formal certificate recognizing this milestone, which is now prominently displayed on our website — a fitting tribute to a career defined by dedication, integrity, and an unwavering passion for justice.
Please join all of us at Maas & Russo, LLP in congratulating Daniel J. Russo on this remarkable 40-year achievement. We are proud to stand alongside him — and grateful every day for the standard of excellence he brings to our clients and our firm.V