Vernon's Texas Rules Annotated - VTRA TX R LAW SPECIALIZATION Section IV. Limitations on Power of the TBLS

The following limitations on the power of the TBLS are established.

A. No standards shall be approved which shall in any way limit the right of a certificate holder to practice law in all areas. Any attorney, alone or in association with any other attorney, shall have the right to practice in all areas of law, even though he or she is board certified in a particular area of law.

B. No attorney shall be required to be certified before he or she can practice law in any particular area of the law. Any attorney, alone or in association with any other attorney, shall have the right to practice in all areas of law, even though he or she is not board certified in any particular area.

C. All requirements for and all benefits to be derived from certification granted by the TBLS or from that by an organization approved by the TBLS are individual and may not be fulfilled by or attributed to a law firm of which the certified attorney may be a member.

D. Participation in the Plan shall be on an entirely voluntary basis.

E. The limit on the number of areas of law in which an attorney may be certified shall be determined by such practical limits as are imposed by the requirement of “substantial involvement” and such other standards as may be established by the TBLS.

F. No rules or standards shall be adopted in contravention of the rules of the State Bar of Texas.