What TBLS is
The Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS) is an independent body, separate from the State Bar of Texas, that certifies Texas attorneys in specialty practice areas. TBLS was established in 1974 and is one of the oldest state-level attorney specialization programs in the United States.
What TBLS certifies
TBLS currently certifies attorneys in 15 specialty areas: Personal Injury Trial Law, Family Law, Criminal Law, Civil Trial Law, Estate Planning & Probate Law, Labor & Employment Law, Civil Appellate Law, Commercial Real Estate Law, Residential Real Estate Law, Oil Gas & Mineral Law, Immigration & Nationality Law, Construction Law, Tax Law, Child Welfare Law, and Criminal Appellate. See our complete TBLS specialty index.
How attorneys qualify
Each specialty has its own qualification requirements, but typical requirements include: (1) at least 5 years of practice; (2) substantial percentage of recent practice in the specialty (e.g., 25-35% over the past 3 years); (3) peer references from attorneys and judges; (4) a written examination; (5) continuing legal education in the specialty. Certifications must be renewed every 5 years with continued substantial practice and peer references.
What it means for clients
A TBLS certification indicates that an attorney has been independently examined, peer-reviewed, and confirmed to have substantial experience in the specialty area. It is not a guarantee of outcome or quality of representation in any specific matter — but it is one independent, fact-based credential that many attorneys do not hold.
How many attorneys are certified?
Fewer than 10% of Texas's licensed attorneys hold any TBLS certification. The biggest specialty by population is Personal Injury Trial Law (~1,200 certified attorneys statewide).
→ Browse all 15 TBLS specialty areas →