Certified Experience Matters

Don't just take our word for it

The National Board of Trial Advocacy has produced two excellent videos on this subject.

"Born in Austin in 1970, I have devoted more than half of my life to the study and practice of law. I entered UT law school in 1992 and have been practicing law in Dallas since 1995. I am board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (Personal Injury Trial Law) and by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification (Civil Trial Law).

Let me briefly explain why board certification should matter to you: Your matter is important whether it is a small business dispute or, obviously, the death or serious injury or a loved one. With only 10% of Texas attorneys able to claim board certification, you are generally better served to hire someone who has qualified to become board certified (by trying cases in a courtroom) and has then passed the rigorous examination. Less than two percent of Texas attorneys have two board certifications. Why leave your important matter to chance?

I have spent the last decade focused on hunting accident deaths and injuries, but I have tried cases in many areas with great success. My direct phone number is 214.580.9803. Call me, and I will guide you through the process of fighting for your rights, including your right to compensation."

Mark of Excellence

Board Certification is a mark of excellence and a distinguishing accomplishment. Within the Texas legal community, Board Certification means an attorney has substantial, relevant experience in a select field of law as well as demonstrated, and tested, special competence in that area of law.

A Distinguished Few

There are more than 70,000 attorneys licensed to practice in Texas. Only 7,000 are Board Certified. Board Certified lawyers earn the right to publicly represent themselves as a specialist in a select area of the law. In fact, they are the only attorneys allowed by the State Bar of Texas to do so. This designation sets them apart as being an attorney with the highest, public commitment to excellence in their area of law.

The process is voluntary and can only take place after an attorney has been in practice for five years, with a minimum of three years experience in the specialty area. Moreover, Board Certification is not a one-time event. It requires an ongoing involvement in the specialty area which is periodically substantiated with references from peers in that field. It also requires annual professional refreshment through TBLS approved, continuing legal education course work to stay abreast of current trends in law.

What are Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™?

The Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ are an objective indicator of a lawyer's high ethical standards and professional ability, generated from evaluations of lawyers by other members of the bar and the judiciary in the United States and Canada. The first review to establish a lawyer's rating usually occurs three years after his/her first admission to the bar. LexisNexis facilitates secure online Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings surveys of lawyers across multiple jurisdictions and geographic locations, in similar areas of practice as the lawyer being rated. Reviewers are asked to assess their colleagues' general ethical standards and legal ability in a specific area of practice. The ratings appear in all formats of the Martindale-Hubbell® Law Directory, in the online listings on martindale.com®, Lawyers.comSM, on the LexisNexis services, on LexisNexis mobile apps.

The Ratings Explanation

Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ reflect a combination of achieving a Very High General Ethical Standards rating and a Legal Ability numerical rating. A threshold number of responses is required to achieve a rating.