At its 88th Annual Conference in LaQuinta, California, Chris Balch was recognized for his demonstrated excellence in Local Government Law by the International Municipal Lawyers Association. The IMLA Fellows program requires a detailed and thorough application process in which the applicant must demonstrate a commitment to representing local governments by virtue of their training, experience, and consistent representation of cities or counties. Once the application is accepted, the Applicant must then pass a written essay examination testing the lawyer’s ability to analyze and respond to problems associated with local government practice.
Once certified, the designation is good for 5 years. It may be extended for additional periods of 5 years if the Designee continues to engage in local government representation, has contributed to the scholarship and thought of what it means to represent local government, and has maintained a reputation in the community for excellence in the work performed as well as maintaining high ethical standards.
