After you or a loved one has been the victim of a traumatic injury or a serious crash, you need a lawyer who can hit the ground running, not one learning on the fly.

Since 1996, the Law Office of Shane R. Kadlec has helped thousands of families recover money to compensate them for the injuries caused by defendants, and work hard to overcome difficult situations, drawing on its deep courtroom experience and a long record of solid verdicts.

Many Texans have heard the phrase “licensed attorney” – but don’t realize there are recognized specialists known as a “board-certified attorney”, and most people do not fully understand the distinction between the two. Let’s look at how those titles differ, why the difference matters to your claim, and how you can use that knowledge to choose the right advocate when you need the best lawyers possible.

Attorney Licensing: The Baseline Requirement

Every lawyer starts with a state license. This is the minimum ticket that lets a person give legal advice, draft pleadings, and walk into a Texas courtroom on your behalf.

To obtain that license, a lawyer must:

●  Earn a J.D. from an American Bar Association-approved law school.

●  Pass the Texas Bar Examination and a separate ethics test.

●  The Board of Law Examiners conducts comprehensive character and fitness screenings.

Once sworn in, the lawyer may practice in any field, from family law to injury litigation, even with no hands-on experience. Mandatory continuing education helps keep licenses active, and the annual requirement is modest, not tied to any single practice area.

Texas Board of Legal Specialization Certification

While a license allows a lawyer to practice, board approval in a specific practice area, such as Personal Injury Trial Law, signals much more. In Texas, the Board of Legal Specialization, created by the state Supreme Court in the 1970s, oversees this process. Only a small percentage of Texas lawyers earn the Personal Injury Trial Law designation, and the review is conducted every five years.

Why does the specialization board system exist? Over the decades, injury law has evolved into a more complex field, integrating medicine, insurance contracts, crash reconstruction, and federal safety regulations. Board certification or approval helps the public identify attorneys who have already proven their skill in these complex disputes.

Key Differences Between Licensed and Board-Certified Attorneys

The contrast becomes clear when you line up the day-to-day requirements of each group.

Requirements and Qualifications

Licensed lawyers meet baseline rules, while board-certified lawyers exceed them. In Texas, a personal injury board candidate must:

1. Practice law for at least five years, with three years heavily focused on injury litigation.
2. First-chair ten or more jury trials that reach a verdict.
3. Gather evaluations from judges and opposing counsel confirming skill and ethics.
4. Pass a difficult six-hour written examination.

Failure on any step sends the lawyer back to the regular license pool until the next application window.

Demonstrated Competence

Board-certified status indicates that the lawyer has handled a steady stream of injury matters and is comfortable selecting juries, cross-examining medical professionals, and arguing damages. In contrast, a newly licensed lawyer may never have walked into a courtroom.

Continuing Education

Every board-certified lawyer must log 100 hours of approved instruction over each five-year term. Courses often cover crash biomechanics, oilfield safety, or cutting-edge product liability issues. This keeps the lawyer current on fresh statutes and court rulings that could drive your recovery.

Peer Recognition

Before approval, judges and fellow attorneys complete confidential surveys addressing honesty, civility, and case performance. A weak reputation can derail the application, giving you an added layer of trust when you hire a board-governed lawyer.

Once you compare the two tracks side by side, the added value of board approval becomes tough to ignore.

Why Board Approval Matters in Personal Injury Cases

Injury law encompasses a wide range of cases, including car wrecks, refinery explosions, unsafe products, and more. Each fact pattern brings a new set of liability theories, medical questions, and insurance loopholes. A board-certified lawyer has shown the ability to juggle those moving parts and achieve success.

Here are a few ways that extra depth can tip the balance:

●  Pressure at the negotiating table. Carriers often weigh an attorney’s trial résumé before making an offer. A lawyer with documented verdicts can shift that calculation in your favor.

●  Efficient investigation. Knowing the medicine and the rules of evidence speeds up witness selection and reduces wasted effort.

●  Credibility with the court. Judges who have seen the lawyer try earlier cases may be more lenient in granting leeway on discovery disputes and scheduling.

Choosing a board-certified advocate does not guarantee success, yet it gives you a head start that can prove decisive when medical bills arrive faster than settlement checks.

Considering Your Options for a Personal Injury Attorney

You do not need a law degree to spot red flags during an initial consultation. Keep these questions handy:

1. How many injury jury trials have you completed?
2. When was your most recent verdict?
3. Do you hold board approval in personal injury trial law?
4. How will you keep me informed on case milestones?

Pay attention not only to the answers but also to the confidence behind them. A board-certified lawyer should provide clear, specific examples without hesitation.

Contact the Law Office of Shane R. Kadlec for Dedicated Representation

The Texas Board of Legal Specialization certifies only highly qualified lawyers. Licensing allows any Texas attorney to practice any field, so even one who has never handled a personal injury case can call themselves an injury lawyer. Board certification, by contrast, demonstrates significant experience, skill, and success —credentials that every client should consider.

Houston accident attorney Shane R. Kadlec earned his Personal Injury Trial Law certification in 2003 and renewed it in 2008 and 2013.

Call 281-643-2000 or visit our contact page to book your free consultation. Let’s talk about your crash, your goals, and the next step toward relief.

Waiting does not make the pain fade or the bills shrink. Reach out today, put our experience to work, and give yourself the best chance at a brighter tomorrow.