You don't need to hire a board-certified lawyer to bring a Texas personal injury claim. Certification is voluntary. A licensed lawyer can practice in the field without applying to the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and the absence of a certification does not establish a lack of skill.
What can you learn from the credential?
A lawyer certified in Personal Injury Trial Law has satisfied the TBLS process for that specialty. Initial requirements include years of practice, qualifying lead-counsel trials, specialty education, references and a written examination. Keeping the credential requires periodic renewal.
With an uncertified lawyer, you need to ask about those matters directly. The attorney might have extensive trial experience or years of work on a particular kind of injury. You cannot infer the answers just from the missing designation. Some lawyers never apply.
Look at the case you actually have
Suppose your claim involves an alleged defect in industrial equipment. Ask each lawyer about work involving similar equipment, the likely technical evidence and access to suitable experts. A certification answers a question about the lawyer's specialty qualifications; it doesn't answer every question about that particular product case.
Ask who will work on the file, too. Certification belongs to a person, not an entire firm. If the attorney featured in the advertisement would supervise rather than handle the case day to day, find out what that arrangement means for you.
Communication deserves its own discussion. Who returns calls? How will you receive updates? What happens if the lawyer and client disagree about a settlement offer? A useful consultation should leave you with answers to those practical questions as well as an explanation of credentials.
Questions to take to the consultation
Does the firm describe a certified lawyer, but propose assigning someone else?
Get the assigned attorney's name. Ask about that person's work and how the certified lawyer would participate. You need to understand the actual arrangement before deciding.
Could an attorney without this credential still try my case?
Yes. Board certification is voluntary in Texas. A lawyer can have courtroom experience without having applied for it.
How do I check the certification being advertised?
Search the individual in the TBLS directory. Read the specialty shown in the record; don't assume that any certification you find is in Personal Injury Trial Law.
Explore the TBLS Personal Injury Knowledge Hub and requirements for Personal Injury Trial Law board certification.
Check the current TBLS standards
For current standards and attorney certification searches, visit the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
ABOUT THE ATTORNEY
Aaron A. Herbert
Founding Attorney
Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law
Aaron founded The Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert in 2010 to focus on developing each client's case and seeking its maximum value. For over a decade, he has represented people seriously injured in major accidents and industrial catastrophes, pursuing trial verdicts and settlements while working to reduce the stress of litigation.
Education
- Texas A&M University · B.S., Criminal Justice, 1999
- University of Oklahoma College of Law · J.D., 2002; graduated in the top of his class
Trial experience & approach
Aaron earned numerous jury verdicts at boutique personal injury litigation firms. According to his biography, he spent a year as the top-earning litigation attorney at a firm that frequently appeared in verdict searches as having one of the highest numbers of trial wins in Texas. At another Dallas personal injury firm, he moved from managing pre-litigation attorney to managing litigation attorney over seven years as the firm grew into one of Dallas's largest personal injury firms.
His biography describes a reputation as one of America's most aggressive trial lawyers, with noteworthy recoveries from judges and juries and substantial pretrial settlements. Most of those settlements included confidentiality agreements requested by the defense. Aaron has said the recoveries were justified by the injuries and losses involved, which no amount of money could make someone choose to experience.
His approach combines passion, preparation, persistence and courtroom imagination. He believes a well-supported, engaged and motivated team working cooperatively helps deliver strong representation, with the goal of achieving the best possible result for every client.
Dallas roots, military service & publication
Born and raised in Dallas, Aaron enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after high school and later received an Honorable Discharge. He completed his university and law degrees after his military service and became a lifelong Sooners football fan in law school.
Publication: “Litigating Dog Bite Cases,” Texas Dog Law Seminar, Dallas, 2009.
Professional affiliations & recognition
Professional affiliations and recognition listed in Aaron’s biography:
- State Bar of Texas
- American Bar Association
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America (now American Association for Justice)
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association
- Dallas Trial Lawyers Association
- Dallas Bar Association
- Tarrant County Bar Association
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- The National Trial Lawyers – Top 100 Trial Lawyers
Trial experience & approach
Aaron earned numerous jury verdicts at boutique personal injury litigation firms. According to his biography, he spent a year as the top-earning litigation attorney at a firm that frequently appeared in verdict searches as having one of the highest numbers of trial wins in Texas. At another Dallas personal injury firm, he moved from managing pre-litigation attorney to managing litigation attorney over seven years as the firm grew into one of Dallas's largest personal injury firms.
His biography describes a reputation as one of America's most aggressive trial lawyers, with noteworthy recoveries from judges and juries and substantial pretrial settlements. Most of those settlements included confidentiality agreements requested by the defense. Aaron has said the recoveries were justified by the injuries and losses involved, which no amount of money could make someone choose to experience.
His approach combines passion, preparation, persistence and courtroom imagination. He believes a well-supported, engaged and motivated team working cooperatively helps deliver strong representation, with the goal of achieving the best possible result for every client.
Dallas roots, military service & publication
Born and raised in Dallas, Aaron enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after high school and later received an Honorable Discharge. He completed his university and law degrees after his military service and became a lifelong Sooners football fan in law school.
Publication: “Litigating Dog Bite Cases,” Texas Dog Law Seminar, Dallas, 2009.
Professional affiliations & recognition
Professional affiliations and recognition listed in Aaron’s biography:
- State Bar of Texas
- American Bar Association
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America (now American Association for Justice)
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association
- Dallas Trial Lawyers Association
- Dallas Bar Association
- Tarrant County Bar Association
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- The National Trial Lawyers – Top 100 Trial Lawyers