Board certification helps distinguish and set attorneys apart in their specific practice areas. The State Bar of Texas only allows Board Certified attorneys to represent themselves as a specialist in a select area of law.

According to the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, “This designation sets them apart as being an attorney with the highest public commitment to excellence in their area of law.”

Board certification is not an easy task for an attorney to achieve, nor is it a one-time only event.

The requirements from TBLS to become a Board Certified attorney are as follows:

• An applicant must have been in practice a minimum of five years with three years of substantial involvement in an area of law,

• An applicant must complete TBLS-approved Continuing Legal Education course requirements,

• An applicant must furnish at least 5 qualified, vetted references,

• An applicant must provide extensive, relevant experience documentation and

• An applicant must pass a comprehensive, daylong, specialty area examination.

After achieving board certification, the attorney is required to go through what TBLS calls “annual professional refreshment” through TBLS approved continuing education legal courses to stay up-to-date on the current trends in the legal industry.

“Board Certification should never be taken lightly. It is a rigorous process that shows the level of commitment an attorney has to his or her field and is something I would recommend all of our attorneys achieve,” said Founding Shareholder Marc Markel.