So, you’ve found yourself in a situation where you’ve realized that you need to hire an attorney. Of course, no one wants to hire a lawyer. Most people would rather try to take care of things by themselves. Why is that? Unfortunately, the profession in general doesn’t exactly have the best reputation. For example, a 2023 Gallup Poll found that only 16% of those surveyed thought attorneys as a profession had “high” or “very high” ethical standards. As an attorney myself, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that these fears are not valid regarding some in the legal field. Instead, I’m going to tell you how to find an attorney who you can trust to be an authority in their field and who treats their clients with the upmost integrity.

Finding a Qualified and Trustworthy Attorney is easier than you might think…

Even once you’ve decided that you need an attorney, finding the right attorney can be overwhelming. Moreover, a study by the American Bar Association (ABA) revealed that consumers felt that it was “not easy to find a good [lawyer]”. Potential clients find themselves inundated with attorneys who say that they are accomplished lawyers who fight for their clients.

But how can you verify that an attorney truly has the skills in their specialization that they say they do? It might seem like every attorney sounds great; they all loudly publicize awards and memberships in legal organizations that sound impressive. But what do any of those awards mean? How can potential clients narrow down the seemingly endless list of lawyers to not only the top attorneys, but the top attorneys in the legal field that a potential client needs?

The ABA study also showed that potential clients wanted a “rating system” or “standard” for attorneys. You want proof that an attorney has both high ethical standards and significant experience trying cases like yours. Thus, the first term that you should look for on an attorney’s website is that they are “board-certified” in the field of law that you need.

Attorneys who have received the distinction of board-certified have been independently vetted by a qualified organization, like the ABA or a state bar association. Board-certification is a great place to begin looking for an attorney because this means that they are considered a “specialist” in their practice area, along with meeting the highest ethical and professional standards.

What Practice Areas Can an Attorney Be Board-Certified In?

As of 2024, nationally, the ABA accredits 18 different board certification programs in the practice areas of:

• Business Bankruptcy
• Civil Practice Advocacy
• Civil Trial Law
• Complex Litigation
• Consumer Bankruptcy
• Creditors’ Rights
• Criminal Trial Advocacy
• DUI Defense Law
• Elder Law
• Estate Planning Law
• Family Law Trial Advocacy
• Juvenile Law – Child Welfare
• Legal Professional Liability
• Medical Professional Liability
• Patent Litigation
• Privacy Law
• Social Security Disability Law
• Truck Accident Law

Some states have their own process for board-certification accreditation so not every program the ABA accredits may be accredited in those states.

What is Board Certification for Attorneys?

Being awarded board certification is a rare achievement. Less than 5% of attorneys nationwide are board-certified in a specialty. The standards for board certification are rigorous; this isn’t just an award that an attorney pays for to make them sound good. Board certification is a mark of distinction that denotes an attorney’s commitment to excellence, specialization, and unwavering advocacy for clients.

Just as with doctors, you go to your primary care provider for checkups and physicals, but you go to a cardiologist for heart problems, attorneys can’t be expected to be experts in every type of law. Just like a doctor can specialize in cardiology, an attorney can specialize in truck accident law.

Board certification conveys that an attorney has done the extra work to be certified as a specialist in a specific legal field. These attorneys have received admission to the Bar, like any other attorney. Moreover, an attorney with board certification expresses that they have also chosen to continue their education to claim “special competence” in their field.

What is the History of Board Certification?

Before the establishment of board certification, there was no uniform way to distinguish an attorney as a specialist, besides an attorney simply claiming their know-how in a legal specialty. Board certification began to pop up as an option for attorneys through varying certifying organizations in the 1970s. Unfortunately, for a long time, attorneys were also barred from advertising themselves except for very strict guidelines. This made it very difficult for potential clients to verify if their attorney was a specialist in the legal area that the client wished to find an attorney in.

Eventually in the 1990’s, the ABA, recognizing the clear convenience that standardized attorney specialty certifications would be to clients, established the first nationwide standards that accredited certain independent certifying organizations’ specialty programs. In addition, the ABA relaxed rules governing an attorney’s ability to advertise their specialty to the public.

Now, many states prevent attorneys from calling themselves a “specialist” or “expert” in a specific area, without the designation of board certification. The board certification program is highly regulated to ensure that potential clients can independently verify an attorney’s acumen. While several private national certifying organizations administer the specialty certifications, the ABA and/or the state bar association for each state reviews the board certification programs and accredits only the top programs in the nation.

Importantly, each attorney who receives the certification must recertify every three to five years as to ensure that the attorney continues to fulfill every requirement for the board certification and that they participate in ongoing education as to continually improve their skills in their specialization.

Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Board-Certified Truck Attorney:

If you have been in a truck wreck, then you want an attorney who is an expert in their field. Truck wreck litigation can be very complex and is much different than car accident litigation. When you are in a truck wreck, you need to hire an attorney quickly to ensure that all evidence is preserved, but you also want an attorney who has tried truck accident cases and won.

To quickly narrow down your selection process, choose an attorney who is board-certified in truck accident law. The board certification in truck accident law is awarded by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) and accredited by the ABA. Attorneys who are board-certified in truck accident law have been independently verified as experts in their field by successfully completing through the rigors of the board-certification process. Choosing an attorney that is board-certified in truck accident law means hiring an attorney with:

1. Significant Experience in Truck Accident Law

Board certification in truck accident law requires a substantial amount of experience in the field. While the ABA requires that an attorney has spent a minimum of five years practicing in truck accident litigation, many board-certified attorneys have decades of experience with truck accident cases. During the comprehensive process, the NBTA will pore over the applying attorney’s record, ascertaining that the applying attorney has plenty of experience litigating truck wreck cases. The NBTA also requires that at least 30% of the attorney’s cases in the three years preceding the attorney’s application are those in the field of truck accident law, as to ensure that the attorney truly is dedicated to truck accident law, not just trying to get certifications to put on their resume.

Board-certified truck accident attorneys must have plenty of experience examining truck wreck expert witnesses, like accident reconstructionists, standard of care experts, and biomechanics experts. The more expert witnesses that an attorney examines expands an attorney’s network of expert witnesses that can be called on in future cases. An expert witness can be instrumental in building a comprehensive case as the expert witness carries a lot of weight to the jury, as jurors are more likely to listen to someone who they conclude is an authority in the field.

2. Extensive Knowledge of Truck Accident Law

Attorneys who are board-certified in truck accident law must showcase their proficiency in handling the intricacies of truck accident cases, from investigating cases, like attending inspections of semis, to understanding the laws or regulations that govern the practice area. To receive the board-certification in truck accident law, the NBTA requires successful passage of a written examination to prove proficiency in truck accident law.

Beyond regulations, board-certified attorneys understand industry standards, best practices, and the latest developments in truck accident law. This knowledge is instrumental in crafting effective legal strategies tailored to the unique challenges presented by truck accident cases. Board certification is an ongoing process that can be revoked if the attorney does not prove their continuous knowledge of new regulations or laws, meaning that potential clients will not have to worry about their attorney having outdated knowledge. Passing the written examination demonstrates to the NBTA that the attorney truly is adept in the complex specialization of truck accident law. This proficiency is crucial for building a solid case foundation and navigating the nuances of truck accident law.

3. Endorsements in Truck Accident Law from their Peers

To obtain board certification in truck accident law, the attorney will have to undergo a thorough peer review process. The applying attorneys’ references, including fellow attorneys, judges, and other legal professionals are asked to assess the candidate’s accomplishment in truck accident law, the candidate’s ethical standards, and the attorney’s overall competency during this process.

To confirm that the applying attorney has truly impressed their peers, the NBTA also asks for references from opposing counsel. In addition, attorneys are prohibited from submitting references from lawyers who practice at the same firm as an applying attorney. An attorney who has obtained board certification means that they have been endorsed by their colleagues as an expert in their truck accident law, which is notable as an endorsement from the attorney’s peers implies that the attorney’s peers were willing to put their names on the line to vouch for this attorney’s professionalism and considerable mastery of truck accident litigation.

4. Ongoing Education as a Board-Certified Truck Accident Attorney

Board certification in truck accident law is not a one-time achievement but a commitment to ongoing professional development. The ABA sets a standard that an attorney must complete a minimum of 45 hours of continuing education in either truck accident law or attorney ethics in the 3 years prior to an attorney’s application. This qualification is important because it guarantees that attorneys who are chosen for board certification in truck accident law are committed to staying involved in new developments in truck accident litigation, ensuring that their clients benefit from the most current and effective legal strategies.

Attorneys must stay updated on changes in truck accident law, emerging trends in truck accident litigation, and evolving legal strategies to maintain their certification in truck accident law. This ongoing education might be obtained by attending or giving workshops or courses on important issues in truck accident law or through authorship of books or articles in truck accident law, proving that the attorney is committed to continue developing their knowledge and experience. As an attorney who is board-certified in truck accident law, I am the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families, which was written to assist victims of truck accidents understand the process and what to do after a semi wreck. I have also written many articles on the subject and spoken at numerous conferences on truck accident law.

5. Determination and Loyalty to Clients

Arguably more important than board certification signifying legal knowledge in truck accident law, board certification also emphasizes adherence to high ethical standards. The written examination that attorneys take consists of many ethics-based questions and moral quandaries. The NBTA also encourages its attorneys to maintain their good moral character through encouraging its attorneys to enroll in or teach ethics courses and seminars, writing articles or books on ethics-related issues, and participating in ethics-based organizations.

Attorneys who are no longer found to be in good standing with the bar association, for example, an attorney with malpractice claims or disciplinary action, can have their board certification revoked. Clients who choose a board-certified attorney can trust that their attorney operates with integrity and is dedicated to helping their client. Attorneys with top moral imperatives can be trusted to be honest with clients by telling the truth, regardless of whether it will make them the most money. Potential clients can rest assured that a board-certified truck accident attorney will act in their client’s best interest.

3 Ways to Determine if an Attorney is Board-Certified in Truck Accident Law:

1. Uses the Term “Specialist” or “Board-Certified”: As previously stated, most states only allow attorneys who are board-certified to claim themselves as “specialists” in their practice area. Therefore, if an attorney’s website states that they are either a “specialist” or “board-certified” in truck accident law, they are most likely board-certified in truck accident law.
2. Appears on the Certifying Organization’s website: If you still aren’t sure if an attorney is board-certified, try searching for the attorney on the ABA’s website. This will offer 100% proof if an attorney is board-certified in a certain legal field. For example, clicking on the National Board of Trial Advocacy on the ABA’s website and then searching for David Craig will bring up my profile, proving that I am board-certified in truck accident law.
3. Uses the Board Certification Badge: When attorneys receive board certification, they are permitted to place the certifying organizations badge on their website; attorneys without board certification are not allowed to use the badge on their website. The badge will usually have the certifying organization that the attorney received their standardized board certification from along with the field of law that the attorney’s specialization is in. The badge for board-certification in truck accident law (shown below) shows the certifying organization (NBTA) and a banner with the practice area (truck accident law).

For example, here is my certification badge which authenticates my specialization in truck accident law from the National Board of Trial Advocacy

The Significance of Choosing a Board-Certified Truck Accident Attorney

A board-certified truck accident attorney has proven their mastery of their specialty in the face of rigid standards required of them. At the beginning of their search for an attorney, most potential clients might not understand the process of board certification or the significance of attorney specialization. However, a North Carolina State Bar survey found that once they were informed of the meaning and distinction of specialty certification, 63% of those surveyed would hire a board-certified attorney with less years of experience over an attorney with more years of experience who is not board-certified. The elaborate vetting process expected of attorneys to become board-certified provides a simple way for potential clients to quickly find the top attorneys in the practice area they need.  Choosing a board-certified truck accident attorney means that clients can trust in the expertise and proficiency of their attorney to guide them through the complicated legal process and pursue justice on their behalf. Furthermore, choosing a board-certified truck accident attorney could mean the difference between winning or losing your case.

After a Semi Wreck, Choose Craig, Kelley, & Faultless’s Board-Certified Truck Accident Attorneys

Less than 75 attorneys are board-certified by the NBTA. Our firm, Craig, Kelley, & Faultless has two attorneys who are board-certified in truck accident law by the National Board of Trial Attorneys (NBTA), both myself, David Craig, and CKF partner, Scott Faultless. Scott and I have a combined six decades of experience practicing truck accident law. We have dedicated our careers to helping truck accident victims recover just compensation for their injuries. As the managing partner of Craig, Kelley, & Faultless, I have handled cases against trucking and other commercial vehicle companies in Indiana, Ohio, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Kansas, as well as other states. Scott and I have successfully settled and tried thousands of cases throughout our careers, ensuring that our clients get just compensation for their injuries. Not all these states recognize the NBTA’s board-certification in truck accident law.  Get a free case review with one of our board-certified truck accident attorneys by calling 1-800-746-0226, and additional information can be found at www.ckflaw.com.

About the Author:

David W. Craig is a board-certified truck accident lawyer and managing partner as well as one of the founding partners of the law firm of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is also recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Indiana by the National Trial Lawyers. David is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families, written to  help victims and their families as they navigate through a terrible situation and answers the host of questions that come after a tragic wreck. He is also the host of the podcast, After the Crash where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large trucks that do not follow Indiana law safety protocol on roads regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc.