Specialty Areas of Board Certification in Texas

Administrative law deals with the rules, regulations, and decisions of government agencies. Attorneys in this area represent clients before state and federal agencies, handle matters involving the Administrative Procedure Act, and litigate disputes over agency actions. This area often involves hearings before the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) and questions about the scope of government authority.

Aviation law covers all phases of aviation and space law, including aircraft purchase and leasing transactions, regulatory compliance with federal and international aviation authorities, litigation related to aviation accidents, and insurance coverage disputes in the aviation industry.

Business bankruptcy law focuses on matters involving business debtors and creditors under the federal Bankruptcy Code. This includes complex corporate reorganizations (Chapter 11), liquidations, and other aspects of debtor-creditor relations in a commercial context.

Consumer bankruptcy law is tailored to individuals and families experiencing financial distress. Specialists handle Chapter 7 liquidations and Chapter 13 wage-earner plans, helping people navigate the process of managing or eliminating debt while protecting assets to the extent allowed by law.

Child welfare law focuses on legal issues related to the protection and welfare of children, particularly cases involving the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). This includes foster care proceedings, termination of parental rights, and the adoption of children from the state system.

Civil appellate law focuses on the post-trial phase of civil disputes — appeals of final judgments or interlocutory orders before civil appellate courts. Specialists in this area are experts in error preservation, brief writing, oral advocacy, and original proceedings such as petitions for writs of mandamus.

Civil trial law covers the litigation of civil controversies across all areas of substantive law before state and federal courts. Certified specialists represent individuals and businesses in matters ranging from complex contract and business disputes to negligence, deceptive trade practices, and landlord-tenant issues. This certification requires significant experience as lead counsel in jury trials.

Construction law deals with the transactions, relationships, and disputes among contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, owners, architects, and governmental entities involved in development, design, and construction projects. This includes contract drafting, risk mitigation, and litigation over construction defects, payment disputes, and delay damages.

This area focuses on disputes involving warranties, sales, leases, landlord-tenant relationships, and credit and collection activities. Specialists are well-versed in the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) and other consumer protection statutes.

Criminal appellate law involves handling appeals from criminal convictions in both state and federal courts. This specialty requires mastery of post-conviction writ proceedings, including applications for writs of habeas corpus, and a deep understanding of constitutional law as applied to criminal procedure.

Criminal law encompasses the preparation and trial of serious criminal matters, including both misdemeanors and felonies. Board certified criminal law attorneys are proficient at every stage of the criminal process — from arrest and detention through plea bargaining and jury trials. This certification requires demonstrated expertise in the attorney-client relationship, pretrial release, and complex motions practice.

This field involves the planning of property disposition through wills and trusts, as well as the administration of estates, guardianships, and probate proceedings. Specialists help clients conserve and protect property, plan transfers through gifts, and minimize the impact of estate taxes.

Family law covers contested trials involving divorce, complex property division, child custody, and support matters. This specialty also includes adoption, paternity, and suits affecting the parent-child relationship. Certification in family law is particularly demanding and often requires handling a high number of contested matters as lead counsel.

Health law involves the representation of healthcare providers, facilities, and patients in matters related to healthcare regulation, medical malpractice defense or prosecution, and the operation of healthcare systems. Due to the high level of regulatory complexity, this certification is held by a relatively small number of attorneys.

Immigration law deals with the complex federal laws governing the entry, stay, and naturalization of foreign nationals in the United States. Specialists handle deportation defense, appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals, and the processing of various types of visas.

Insurance law focuses on the interpretation of insurance policies and the litigation of disputes between insurers and policyholders. Specialists deal with duty-to-defend questions, duty-to-indemnify issues, and claims of bad faith across diverse industries.

Judicial administration is a specialized certification focused on the proper administration of justice within the court system. It includes knowledge of court management, ethics, and the systemic functions required to ensure the efficient operation of the courts. This certification is available to members of the judiciary.

Juvenile law addresses criminal matters involving individuals under the age of 17 in Texas. It covers delinquency proceedings, conduct indicating a need for supervision, and the specific procedures of the juvenile justice system. While it overlaps with family and child welfare law, it remains a distinct specialty.

This specialty covers the legal relationships between employers and employees, including workplace discrimination, labor relations, and employment policies. Specialists handle wage-and-hour claims, ERISA disputes, and litigation under the Family and Medical Leave Act and other employment statutes.

Legislative and campaign law involves the legal aspects of the legislative process, election contests, recounts, and campaign finance regulations. Specialists advise candidates, political committees, and government entities on compliance with state and federal election laws.

This certification is critical to the Texas economy. It covers the acquisition, development, and disposition of minerals, including complex agreements such as farmouts, pooling and unitization agreements, and master service agreements, as well as litigation involving mineral rights.

Personal injury trial law covers cases where physical or mental injury has been caused by negligence or defective products. This certification specifically denotes that the attorney has successfully tried significant cases before juries — not just settled them. It is a key differentiator in a market where many attorneys who advertise personal injury work have limited or no actual trial experience.

This specialty addresses the laws and regulations governing homeowners associations (HOAs) and other property owners' associations. Specialists manage association governance, interpret restrictive covenants, and litigate disputes between associations and property owners.

Commercial real estate law involves the acquisition, transfer, and use of land and improvements for business operations. Specialists handle complex commercial transactions, financing, and title reviews for office buildings, retail centers, and industrial properties.

This niche area focuses on matters involving agricultural land, including rural easements, water rights, and the specific statutory protections afforded to farms and ranches in Texas.

Residential real estate law deals with matters affecting homes and individual residential properties, including the preparation of deeds, deeds of trust, and the unique homestead and home equity laws of Texas.

Tax law specialists deal with federal, state, and local taxation of individuals and business entities. They provide advice on tax planning, represent clients in IRS audits, and litigate tax disputes in federal court.

Workers' compensation law focuses on the system that provides benefits to employees injured on the job. Specialists must be familiar with the administrative procedures and statutory requirements of the Texas workers' compensation system and may represent either claimants or insurance carriers.