I found out earlier this year that I had passed the certification exam by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and was sworn in in March ... I am officially board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law. 

The exam was a doozy. Indeed, studying for exams (and passing them) at age 60 is/was a challenge. And a number of really good tort lawyers did not pass it ... I managed to get enough right to make it. I have mixed feelings about evaluating practicing lawyers regarding their ability to recall laws, rules and such without their library handy; that is not how one practices. But still ... I don't make the rules. References from other lawyers is also required, too. 

The most critical part of the certification process, though, is the requirement that one has tried at least ten (10) cases to verdict. More and more ... as trials become more scarce due to alternative dispute resolution, costs, and a legal system reducing the opportunities for trial in general, this requirement will be hard to complete. 

Fortunately, I have been doing this for a while. Though my practice does not focus primarily on personal injury suits, I have handled many over the years and am always handling some. 

So, bottom line ... the certification tell you that have handled many personal injury suits, and I have the experience to handle many more.  And I am glad to have it.  Now ... send me your tort suits.