Houston, Texas Personal Injury Lawyers | Houston Accident Attorneys

In the State of Texas there are over 70,000 lawyers and in the city of Houston there are over 14,000 lawyers. Of course, not all lawyers practice personal injury trial work.

Some states offer Board Certification programs and others do not. The State of Texas does have a Board Certification process. This is managed by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and one of the areas of practice is called "Personal Injury Trial law." This specialty started in 1978.

According to the TBLS, the specialty of Personal Injury Trial Law is defined as: "litigation based on an individual's injury from automobile accidents, professional malpractice, defective products or negligence by another."

The TBLS requirements to become Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law are:

TEXAS BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION
STANDARDS FOR ATTORNEY CERTIFICATION

PART II
SPECIFIC AREA REQUIREMENTS

SECTION VI
PERSONAL INJURY TRIAL LAW

A. DEFINITION. Personal injury trial law is the practice of law dealing with litigation of claims involving trauma or disability, physical or mental, to a person. It includes, by way of definition, and not limitation, litigation involving personal injury aspects of:

B. SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT. Applicant must show substantial involvement and special competence in Texas personal injury trial law practice by providing such information as may be required by TBLS.

1. Certification.

a. Percentage of Practice Requirement. Applicant must have devoted a minimum of 25% of his or her time practicing personal injury trial law in Texas during each year of the 3 years immediately preceding application as defined in Section VI, A of the Specific Area Requirements for Personal Injury Trial Law.

b. Task Requirements. Applicant must provide information as required by TBLS concerning specific tasks he or she has performed in Texas personal injury trial law. In evaluating experience, TBLS may take into consideration the nature, complexity, and duration of the tasks handled by applicant.

(1) Applicant must have tried during his or her entire practice, as lead counsel, at least 10 contested civil cases which were submitted to the trier of fact in a court of record in Texas. Five of the required 10 cases must have been personal injury jury trials.

2. Recertification. Applicant must have devoted a minimum of 25% of his or her time practicing personal injury trial law in Texas during each year of the 5 year period of certification as defined in Section VI, A of the Specific Area Requirements for Personal Injury Trial Law except as provided for in Part I–General Requirements, Section VI, C,1(b).

C. REFERENCE REQUIREMENTS. Applicant must submit a minimum of 5 names and addresses of persons to be contacted as references to attest to his or her competence in personal injury trial law. These persons must be substantially involved in personal injury trial law, and be familiar with applicant’s personal injury trial law practice.

1. Certification. Applicant must submit names of persons with whom he or she has had dealings involving personal injury trial law matters within the 3 years immediately preceding application.

2. Recertification. Applicant must submit names of persons with whom he or she has had dealings involving personal injury trial law matters since certification or the most recent recertification.

3. Reference Types. Applicant must submit the following types of references:

a. Four Texas attorneys who are substantially involved in personal injury trial law. Applicant must have tried a personal injury trial law matter with or against one of these attorneys.

b. One judge of any court of record in Texas whom applicant has appeared before as an advocate in a personal injury trial law matter.