The National Board of Trial Advocacy is (NBTA) a country-wide certification authority for attorneys across the United States. The Board offers certifications for specialties in a number of fields, including:
- Civil Trial Law
- Civil Practice Advocacy
- Complex Litigation
- Criminal Trial Law
- Family Trial Law
- Patent Litigation
- Social Security Disability Law
- Truck Accident Law
The NBTA is in turn certified by the American Bar Association (ABA) every five years.
The American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys (ABPLA) is a national certification authority that evaluates and certifies attorneys in the specialized fields of Legal Malpractice Law and Medical Malpractice Law. As the only organization accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) to certify attorneys in these areas, the ABPLA upholds rigorous standards of competence, ethics, and experience. Attorneys who earn ABPLA certification must demonstrate substantial trial experience, pass a comprehensive examination, and maintain ongoing legal education in their specialty. The ABPLA’s ABA accreditation is reviewed and renewed every five years.
Receiving a Specialization
Receiving a specialization is not an easy task. To become a certified specialist in civil pretrial practice, lawyers must show substantial involvement in this practice area including:
- Authoring peer-review publications or articles presented at a CLE function all of which relate to pretrial or trial procedure;
- Making oral arguments on motions for summary judgment or other dispositive motions;
- Taking depositions of expert witnesses; participating in contested arbitrations and mediations;
- Qualifying, or opposing the qualification of, an expert in Daubert hearings;
- Participating in class action certification hearings; and
- Pursuing or defending contested temporary injunction hearings in which testimony is presented; and
- Presenting oral arguments in appellate cases.
The certified specialist for civil pre-trial practice or civil practice advocacy focuses on non-criminal litigation, such as personal injury and medical malpractice litigation, construction law, insurance claims, and other civil controversies.
4-Time Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyers
Attorney Katherine McArthur is dual-certified in both civil practice and civil advocacy.
Civil Practice Advocacy refers to the administrative and pre-trial functions of attorneys for non-criminal cases, including such as personal injury and medical malpractice litigation, construction law, insurance claims, and other civil controversies.
Civil Trial Advocacy refers to the understanding of the actual trial process. This includes preparing and filing for trials, as well as arguing during a trial in addition to evaluating, handling, and resolving civil controversies prior to the initiation of suit and prior to trial.
Truck Accident Advocacy refers to the legal work involved in pursuing justice and compensation for victims of commercial truck crashes. This area of civil law includes investigating the cause of the accident, identifying all responsible parties—such as drivers, trucking companies, and manufacturers—collecting evidence, working with accident reconstruction experts, and negotiating with insurance carriers.
Medical Professional Liability Advocacy refers to to the area of civil law that holds healthcare providers accountable when their negligence results in harm to a patient. This includes cases involving misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication mistakes, birth injuries, and failures to follow accepted standards of care. Effective advocacy in this field involves gathering expert testimony, analyzing medical records, and navigating complex litigation to help injured patients recover the compensation they deserve.
How Important is a Board Certification?
While the respective Bar associations of each lawyer’s state (including the Georgia Bar Association) certify lawyers as minimally qualified to practice law, a certification from the NBTA demonstrates that the attorney is driven beyond the minimum licensure, has a vested interest in improving his or her craft and that a higher authority approves the lawyer.
Additional Certification Resources
National Board of Trial Advocacy – The official website for the NBTA provides information on both the requirements for certification, as well as frequently asked questions and a registry for all lawyers in good standing with the board.
American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys – The American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys (ABPLA) is a national certifying organization that recognizes attorneys who have demonstrated exceptional skill, experience, and ethics in the field of professional liability law, including medical and legal malpractice.
National Board of Trial Advocacy:Civil Trial Advocacy – The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) offers board-certification in the specialty area of Civil Trial Law. The certified specialist for civil trial law focuses on non-criminal litigation, such as personal injury and medical malpractice litigation, construction law, insurance claims, and other civil controversies.
National Board of Trial Advocacy:Pretrial Advocacy – Civil practice is defined as representation in pretrial issues in civil cases, such as discovery, summary judgment, and pretrial motion hearings. For this specialty practice area, the emphasis is on the preparatory steps for resolving disputes before a tribunal, including litigation proceedings.
National Board of Trial Advocacy:Truck Accident Law – According to the board certification program, the term “truck accident law” is defined as dealing “with the procedural, substantive and practical issues unique to collision cases involving commercial tractor trailers, buses, and other commercial motor vehicles and all of the people and entities in the transportation cycle.”
American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys:Medical Professional Liability – The Medical Malpractice Board Certification by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys (ABPLA) is a prestigious credential awarded to attorneys who demonstrate advanced expertise and significant experience in handling medical malpractice cases. To earn certification, attorneys must meet rigorous standards, including substantial trial involvement, and pass a comprehensive examination. This certification helps the public identify highly qualified attorneys committed to excellence in representing clients in complex medical malpractice claims.
Hire a Board-Certified Civil Trial Lawyer
The Lawyers at McArthur Law Firm go beyond the minimum, with a passion to serve our clients to the best of our ability. We work nationwide and statewide, representing residents living in Atlanta, Columbus and Augusta.
The McArthur Law Firm serves Albany, Savannah, and other Georgia cities in and around Macon. We offer a free initial consultation on all cases. Call 404-565-1621 to speak with a compassionate lawyer.
