What is a Board Certified Attorney?

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A Board Certified attorney is an attorney who has demonstrated special competence in a particular field and whose competence has been certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Fewer than 3% of all the attorneys in Texas are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law.

The Texas Board of Legal Specialization was created by the Supreme Court of Texas, and the Board members are appointed by the President of the State Bar of Texas. The Board, in turn, administers the program through which an attorney may demonstrate special competence in a particular area of law practice.

To become Board Certified in a specialty area, an attorney must have:

• Been licensed to practice law for at least five years;
   

• Devoted a required percentage of practice to a specialty area for at least three years;
   

• Handled a wide variety of matters in the area to demonstrate experience and involvement;
   

• Attended continuing education seminars regularly to keep legal training up to date;
   

• Been evaluated by fellow lawyers and judges;
   

• Passed a day-long written examination.

  At last count there were 6,399 board certified attorneys in Texas:

  197    in Administrative Law
  167    in Bankruptcy Law - Consumer
  173    in Bankruptcy Law - Business
  394    in Civil Appellate Law
  1272  in Civil Trial Law
  51      in Consumer Law
  735    in Criminal Law
  569    in Estate Planning and Probate Law
  651    in Family Law
  72      in Immigration and Nationality Law
  374    in Labor and Employment Law
  279    in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law
  1657  in Personal Injury Trial Law
  334    in Real Estate Law - Residential
  505    in Real Estate Law - Commercial
  110    in Real Estate Law - Farm and Ranch
  221    in Tax Law

  7761  Total Certificates issued (includes attorneys certified in more than one area)