Being Board Certified

Originally published by Patricia McConnico.

The Texas Board of Legal Specialization inducted 267 attorneys and 22 paralegals at a ceremony in Austin on February 10, 2017. TBLS recognizes 22 specialty areas for attorneys and seven specialty areas for paralegals. Construction law, which was added last year, had one of the largest attorney groups of an inaugural specialty in TBLS history. There are more than 100,000 attorneys licensed to practice law in Texas but only roughly 7,400 are board certified. The Texas Bar Journal spoke with three certified attorneys—one who has held the distinction for a while and two who recently passed their exams—about their practice areas, decisions to become certified, and why certification is so important to them. The 2017 applications for board certification are now available at the TBLS website Get Certified page.

 

Christopher S. Ayres 

Christopher S. Ayres is president and a shareholder in Ayres Law Offices in Addison, where he focuses on civil litigation and personal injury law. A graduate of Baylor Law School, Ayres, at age 31, became the youngest Texas lawyer to be double certified in civil trial law and personal injury law. He is also certified in civil pretrial and civil trial law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

What prompted you to become board certified? And why did you feel the need to get double certified?

I’m in a somewhat unique position in that I practice law with my dad, and my dad is the only lawyer in Texas with his level of board certification. Ever since I began my law practice, my dad instilled in me a belief and opinion that board certification matters. And the reason why I believe it is so important, and why I chose to vigorously pursue it, is because it is something that you are able to disclose to clients and the public about your competency that very few lawyers have. By being able to say “I’m a board certified lawyer,” you are able to express to clients and the public that you have a requisite amount of experience that the average lawyer doesn’t and you have abilities and expertise and knowledge that the average lawyer doesn’t. So, to me, from the outset of my career, I believed it was important to pursue so that I could obtain board certification as promptly as possible.

How did you prepare for certification? What was your biggest challenge? Why?

What it requires depends on your certification. For civil trial law, you have to have several years of experience, including 25 trials exceeding a specified monetary value. Beyond that, you must show a breadth of experience through references from peers. Once all of that occurs, you are cleared to sit for a written examination that is, as one would predict, comprehensive for the given practice area and challenging in its proof that the applicant has adequate and comprehensive knowledge in the specialty.

Do you believe being board certified has made you a better lawyer? If so, how?

Yes. It is the totality of getting to that step, a culmination of an investment of significant time and effort. Once you obtain that level, then you must keep advancing with continuing legal education courses and an active practice devoted to the specialty area. It places a responsibility on you and drives you as a lawyer.

Would you recommend certification to other practicing lawyers? Why or why not? 

Definitely. It is important to the public to have confidence in a lawyer. Board certification is one large way that the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and the State Bar of Texas can identify a certain level of experience so the public knows whom they can trust.

 

Carson Fisk

Carson Fisk is a shareholder in Andrews Myers in Austin, where he focuses on complex construction litigation, construction-related transactions, and mediation and arbitration. He graduated with a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 2003. Fisk is a member of the Austin Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section and the State Bar of Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution Section.

Congratulations. I hear you are a newly certified attorney. What is your certification in and what prompted you to become board certified?

I was certified in construction law, which was new this year. I had been interested in board certification for some time but they didn’t have a construction law specialty and there wasn’t a right fit. I was excited to see that and jumped in.

How did you prepare for certification? What was your biggest challenge and why?

The biggest challenge was wondering what to expect on the exam—I didn’t have any familiarity with it. The last time I took an exam was the bar exam, and I swore then that I would never take an exam again. Sure enough, I was wrong. The Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas actually sponsored an exam review course that really helped me focus. We had great presenters, but there was obviously a lot of material to cover. The Texas Board of Legal Specialization refers people taking the exam to the specifications themselves, which generally include the topics to study. The issue with construction is that it is a robust body of law in Texas with a number of statutes and plenty of cases and doctrines. There is a lot of information to absorb.

What do you believe will be some of the benefits of being board certified?

It is a large group for the inaugural class, which I think is great. What I hope to achieve or gain is that it will be something that sets you apart from others. There are a number of qualified, experienced, and skilled construction lawyers in the state. Some of them are board certified and some are not. But I think it is a way to set yourself apart from a larger group of practitioners. This is independent validation of your practice area and that you really know what you are doing. So I think it is very beneficial in that sense.

Do you think certification will make you a better lawyer? If so, how?

What I would like to see happen is that this is one more piece that lets construction lawyers maintain professional ties and collegiality and continue to practice in a close-knit fashion. I think a lot of times in the cases that I get involved in, it really helps when you know the lawyer on the other side and it is someone who you have worked with in the past. Instead of going into full-blown litigation mode, you are able to negotiate a resolution a lot earlier on because you’ve got a good working and professional relationship with the lawyer on the other side. My hope would be that the certification process adds to that. And I think it certainly could.

Do you plan to continue to meet the requirements of certification? If so, why?

Definitely. It will not lapse. I will—probably—never take an exam again.

Would you recommend certification to other practicing lawyers? Why or why not? 

Absolutely. I think even putting the time and thought and energy into the application process was beneficial. Definitely studying for the exam and thinking about what types of questions might be posed was useful as a refresher. Certification gives you something that sets you apart when you are promoting your practice. I have to think that it is valuable in professional networking and promoting collegiality and all of those things that go into separating law as a profession as opposed to just a job—and I think that is important. I think regardless of the practice area, the certification process is something that has been around for a while, has longevity, and has value.

What would you tell someone who is thinking about becoming board certified?

For anyone who is thinking about becoming board certified, you don’t need to be intimidated by the exam. If you start studying far enough out, you will be able to review and read everything you need to. Whatever your chosen area of law, chances are you already know it. You may just need to refresh your memory on some of it. It is manageable with discipline and diligence.

 

Rahila N. Sultanali

Rahila N. Sultanali is a shareholder with Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey, where she specializes in real estate and corporate law in the firm’s Fort Bend County office. Sultanali earned her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in 2010 and recently achieved certification by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in commercial real estate law and residential real estate law. She is an active member of the Fort Bend County Bar Association.

Congratulations. I hear you are a newly certified attorney. What is your certification in and what prompted you to become board certified?

I became board certified in commercial real estate law and residential real estate law. I love what I do—commercial and residential real estate law is my passion and I wanted to demonstrate my knowledge and expertise in my practice area. It was a goal I had set for myself, and I wanted to make sure I achieved it.

How did you prepare for certification? What was your biggest challenge and why?

This was definitely not an easy exam—it was like taking the bar exam all over again. The exam covered a broad range of topics and content, so I spent many hours studying, including nights and weekends. My law firm was so supportive, and everyone encouraged me throughout the entire process. My peers would tell me, “Don’t worry, we know you knocked it out of the park,” however the relief didn’t settle in until I found out that I passed both of the exams.

What does being board certified mean to you and your practice?

It has been a significant milestone in my career. I think it helps establish my credibility, confirms that I am indeed specialized in my field, and distinguishes me from other attorneys. It gives clients a sense of confidence and trust in my skill set, as I have been certified by an independent certifying entity. I am honored to be one of the few attorneys in Texas that are board certified in both commercial and residential real estate law.

Do you think certification will make you a better lawyer? If so, how?

Yes, I think getting board certified has further expanded my knowledge base and has given me more expertise in my practice areas. However, I am aware that such knowledge is a lifelong process that never ends.

Do you plan to continue to meet the requirements of certification? If so, why?

Absolutely. It was work to pass both of these exams so I definitely want to keep up with all of the requirements to maintain the certifications.

Would you recommend certification to other practicing lawyers? Why or why not? 

Yes of course. My philosophy is always to try to be the best of the best. Why not set yourself apart from other attorneys? Achieving board certification demonstrates that you are a specialist in your field, so I definitely would recommend this to other attorneys.

What would you tell someone who is thinking about becoming board certified?

Everybody who can qualify should definitely go for it. It will require some hard work, dedication, and effort, but being board certified will be well worth it.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Always set goals for yourself so you have something to work toward. Aim high as the sky is the limit.

 

 

 

Curated by Texas Bar Today. Follow us on Twitter @texasbartoday.

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