1:"$Sreact.fragment" 2:I[5500,["/_next/static/chunks/5629d54b0bffca99.js","/_next/static/chunks/8cdb06933ba3ae08.js"],"Image"] d:I[97367,["/_next/static/chunks/ff1a16fafef87110.js","/_next/static/chunks/d2be314c3ece3fbe.js"],"OutletBoundary"] e:"$Sreact.suspense" 0:{"buildId":"1h5MJ_A5GJc1uvyzBcQ51","rsc":["$","$1","c",{"children":[[["$","section",null,{"className":"relative bg-primary overflow-hidden py-16 md:py-24","children":[["$","div",null,{"className":"absolute inset-0 z-0","children":[["$","$L2",null,{"src":"/hero-board-certified-vs.png","alt":"Hero Background","fill":true,"className":"object-cover opacity-30 object-center","priority":true}],["$","div",null,{"className":"absolute inset-0 bg-gradient-to-t from-primary via-primary/80 to-transparent"}]]}],["$","div",null,{"className":"container-prose text-center relative z-10","children":[["$","h1",null,{"className":"text-white mt-0 mb-6 font-bold","children":"Why Board Certification Matters"}],["$","p",null,{"className":"text-xl text-slate-300 font-serif max-w-2xl mx-auto","children":"When you need a lawyer for something serious, you want more than a promise. 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