For nearly 20 years, the Community Associations Institute (CAI) has recognized  excellence in the practice of community association law through the Falls  Church, Virginia-based College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL). Of the  tens of thousands of attorneys practicing community association law across the  United States, less than 150 have been granted exclusive membership in the  college.  

 In 1993, the charter class consisted of 20 attorneys acknowledged by their peers  as having developed the field of community association law. This burgeoning  area of law focused on all areas of the law affecting community associations  such as enforcement of an association’s rules and governing documents, litigation, mediation, arbitration and contract  renegotiation and renewal.  

 “CCAL is a designation that lawyers earn by way of having a sufficient number of  years of experience in practicing, writing about or teaching Community  Association Law,” says CCAL member Ronald L. Perl of Princeton, New Jersey, who teaches a  Community Association Law course at Seton Hall Law School. “CCAL members are people that are at the top of the profession of representing  community associations. I get calls from other lawyers all the time. Many refer  matters to me when they have community association law issues that are beyond  their level of competence or expertise.  

 Experts in the Field

 The members of CCAL are considered experts in the field of community association  law by their peers. The members distinguish themselves through the  contributions to the development of the profession. Their service is  demonstrated by a commitment to educate and empower boards and the 60 million  residents of the 300,000 community associations across the country. In  addition, CCAL provides a forum for the exchange of information among  experienced legal professionals working in the community association field  arena.  

 “I do get consulted quite a bit as an expert witness for other lawyers who need  an expert in this field,” adds Perl. “When you look for a doctor they have a designation in their area or a specialty  and you’ll feel more comfortable going to them. I think the CCAL designation shows that.  It identifies people who have achieved competence in this area of the law.”