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Vernon's Texas Rules Annotated - VTRA TX R LAW SPECIALIZATION Section X. Responsibilities of Certified Attorneys

Current as of January 01, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

A. When a client is referred to an attorney who is certified by the TBLS on a matter within the attorney's specialty area, the attorney so certified shall not take advantage of his position to enlarge the scope of his representation. In addition to any requirements of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, the attorney so certified shall encourage a referred client to return to the referring attorney for the handling of future legal needs.

B. Special Controls

1. Each applicant and certified attorney shall agree to abide by all rules and regulations promulgated by the TBLS as amended from time to time.

2. Certification by the TBLS confers no vested rights or property rights.

C. Rules of Professional Conduct

Any attorney holding a current certificate of special competence shall be entitled to the following:

1. To state in recognized and conventional legal directories or law lists that the attorney is certified by the TBLS in a particular area in the following words: “Board Certified (e.g., Labor and Employment Law)--Texas Board of Legal Specialization”. In all other respects the listing shall conform to the present rules of the State Bar of Texas, including Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct;

2. To state in a notice mailed to attorneys, clients, former clients, personal friends and relatives that the attorney is certified by the TBLS in a particular area in the following words: “Board Certified (e.g., Family Law)--Texas Board of Legal Specialization”. In all other respects the listing shall conform to the present rules of the State Bar of Texas, including Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct;

3. To state in the classified section of telephone directories that the attorney is certified by the TBLS in a particular area in the following words: “Board Certified (e.g., Criminal Law)--Texas Board of Legal Specialization”. In all other respects the listing shall conform to the present rules of the State Bar of Texas, including the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct;

4. To state on a professional card that the attorney is certified by the TBLS in a particular area in the following words: “Board Certified (e.g., Civil Trial Law)--Texas Board of Legal Specialization”. Said information is also permitted on the letterhead under the individual listing of the attorney on the margin of the stationary, but not under the styled name of the firm at the top of the letterhead. In all other respects the listing shall conform to the present rules of the State Bar of Texas, including Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct; and

5. To display in the attorney's office the certificate issued by the TBLS.

No statement of certification shall be permitted other than as above specifically described unless permitted by the rules of the State Bar of Texas, including the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Vernon's Texas Rules Annotated - VTRA TX R LAW SPECIALIZATION Section X. Responsibilities of Certified Attorneys - last updated January 01, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/vernon-s-texas-rules-annotated/vtratx-r-law-specialization-section-x/

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