Licensing
and Specialization
Each of the firm's
attorneys is duly licensed to practice law in
the State of Texas. An individual licensed as
an attorney at law is authorized to render legal
services and practice before all courts within
the state. Members of the firm are also admitted
to practice before various federal district and/or
appellate courts.
In
July, 1974, the supreme court created the Texas
Board of Legal Specialization to permit Texas
attorneys to secure additional recognition of
their competence in chosen practice areas. Certification
by the Board is available in 13 fields of law,
and is restricted to attorneys who have been in
practice five years or more. Law firms are not
eligible. Applicants must fulfill specific continuing
legal education requirements (in addition to those
required of all attorneys by the State Bar of
Texas), concentrate at least 25% of their practice
in the specialty for which they seek certification,
and pass a thorough written examination. If deemed
necessary by the Board of Specialization, an applicant
may also be required to undergo an extensive oral
examination. These examinations are prepared and
graded by other Board certified specialists and
members of the judiciary.
In
addition to the certification requirements noted
above, an applicant seeking certification as a
specialist in the fields of Personal Injury Trial
Law and Civil Trial Law must demonstrate that
he has, as the primary attorney, tried to conclusion
a minimum of fifteen jury trials at the district
court level.
Certification
of any applicant for trial specialization is also
subject to the approval of the judges sitting
in the county in which the applicant practices.
Certification is not available in many fields
of law. Designation of an attorney's primary areas
of practice herein is not intended to express
or imply Board certification in those areas. By
the same token, descriptions of services provided
by the firm generally are not intended to express
or imply Board certification of the firm's members.
Individual members of the firm certified by the
Texas Board of Legal Specialization are identified
by specialty in the biographical appendix at the
close of this brochure. Only those identified
have received Board certification as specialists.
Attorneys responsible for providing legal services
for the firm are designated on a case-by-case
basis.
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