You. The most obvious reason why the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS) legal assistant certification program is unique, is the involvement of the exceptional participants and dedicated volunteer commission members. The program would not function, much less be a success, without the countless hours contributed by both participants and volunteers.

HIGH (BUT ATTAINABLE) STANDARDS

The requirements for legal assistant certification are reflective of today's highly experienced legal assistant professionals. The Legal Assistant Specialty Certification Standards require the successful completion of the following general minimum qualifications: The standards for the legal assistant exam were patterned after the similarly comprehensive requirements of the attorney certification program. These rigorous requirements provide the basis for viewing certification as a desirable and meaningful accomplishment in the legal field. Although still in its infancy, we believe the legal assistant specialty exam program is earning this credibility.

TESTS TEXAS LAW

The three TBLS legal assistant specialty examinations are designed to test legal assistants on Texas law in the fields of civil trial, family, and personal injury trial. The examinations focus on the responsibilities and duties performed by Texas legal assistants. The following are examples of topics that could be covered on specific exams:

All Exams

Personal Injury

Civil Trial

Family

 (This list is not exclusive and the exams are revised each year)

The exams are four hours long and include both objective and essay questions. The essay questions are based upon hypothetical situations requiring original drafting and/or completion of various pleadings and discovery requests, identification of critical or substantive issues, and knowledge of procedural considerations. The exams are prepared and graded by the Legal Assistant Exam Commission which consists of attorneys, educators, and TBLS certified legal assistants. TBLS exams are not standardized exams. A curve method (Norm Reference Testing) is used to calculate the pass/fail results. This method allows TBLS to consider any possible weaknesses in the questions and to make appropriate adjustments according to the performance of examinees. The exams are revised every year, and previous exams are not available for review. There are no specific exam preparation materials or courses provided by TBLS. The Legal Assistants Divisions (LAD), however, sponsors advanced courses in each of the TBLS specialty fields. Several legal assistants who have taken the exam have informed TBLS that the courses were very comprehensive, and did help them prepare for the exam. Other advanced courses and materials covering the specialty fields should also prove to be helpful.

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

Use of the TBLS designation is one of the most recognizable and rewarding aspects of successful completion of the legal assistant certification program. The official TBLS designation, ''Board Certified Legal Assistant-(specialty field)-Texas Board of Legal Specialization'', can be used in conventional mediums, including legal directories, legal assistant lists, letterhead or on a business card. Because the legal assistant designation is phrased similarly to the established attorney designation, it is highly respected and widely recognized in the Texas legal community.

UNIFIED EFFORT

The creation of the legal assistant program involved a great deal of energy and several years of work by a unified group of volunteer attorneys, educators and legal assistants. In 1989, LAD members voted in a special referendum to set aside division funds for the development of a certification program. The SBOT Board of Directors paralleled this action in 1991 by creating a special Task Force to conduct studies researching the concept of voluntary specialty-certification. Within a year of the inception of the Task Force, LAD, the SBOT Board of Directors and TBLS approved the program, and agreed that TBLS would administer it. The special group effort was officially acknowledged on May 18, 1993 when the Texas Supreme Court issued an order amending the Texas Plan for Recognition and Regulation of Specialization in the Law to include the administration of the legal assistant specialty certification program. This effort continues today with attorneys and legal assistants working together on TBLS Legal Assistant Advisory and Exam Commissions.

GOAL: PROFESSIONALISM OVER PROFIT

One of the goals of the legal assistant certification program is to promote professional recognition and advancement for Texas legal assistants who have developed expertise in specific fields of Texas law. TBLS is a non-profit organization specifically created for advancing the standards of the legal profession and promoting the availability, accessibility and quality of the services of the legal profession to the public. As the only state-associated organization in the nation responsible for certifying both attorneys and legal assistants in specific fields of law, TBLS programs are in a category all by themselves.

FAIR PROCESS

Since its inception, TBLS has processed approximately 320 legal assistant applications and 8,000 attorney applications. Working with so many individuals has helped TBLS create a fair and objective administrative process for screening applicants. TBLS retains the same application filing schedule each year, which starts every September 1 and closes December 1 of that year. The exam is given in March or April. The TBLS application is one of the most critical instruments used in determination of an applicant's eligibility. The application form is extensive and somewhat tedious to complete, but necessary. It is very important to list accurate and detailed information concerning education, experience, employment, responsibilities, and duties. The application review process involves the staff, the Legal Assistant Advisory Commission and the TBLS. Applicant information and credentials are reviewed on an individual basis. TBLS recently approved Rules and Regulations for the legal assistant's program to assist applicants with this process. If an applicant has a special situation or needs specific considerations, TBLS encourages applicants to rely on the TBLS staff to provide the necessary assistance.

REPRESENTATIVE ORGANIZATION

The program's organizational structure is a unique characteristic that separates TBLS from national certifying organizations. TBLS has two working bodies of volunteers responsible for the legal assistant program, the Legal Assistant Advisory Commission and the Exam Commission. With TBLS approval, these commissions establish policies and procedures, review all applications, and write and grade the exams. The Commission consists of both attorneys and legal assistants. Since the establishment of the legal assistant program, the Specialization Task Force has been added to the TBLS organization. The Task Force has been charged with studying specialization issues for both attorney and legal assistant programs. The Specialization Task Force is comprised of former Board members, judges, experienced lawyers, and has a representative from the Legal Assistant Advisory Commission.

EXPERIENCE AND NATIONAL SUCCESS

In 1974 the Texas Supreme Court issued an order establishing the Texas attorney certification program. The first attorney certificates were issued one year later. Twenty years later, TBLS is celebrating the anniversary of the attorney certification program with over 5,500 certified attorneys in 14 different specialty fields. TBLS currently has the largest number of certified attorneys in the nation, and is the first and only state-associated program to certify legal assistants. The national recognition and success of the attorney program have given the certified legal assistant program a prestigious advantage.

FUTURE AWARENESS

TBLS is constantly working to improve and advance the legal assistant program. It has successfully administered exams twice and has certified 191 Texas legal assistants-66 in Civil Trial Law, 46 in Family Law, and 79 in Personal Injury Trial. What's next for the program? What new fields of law will TBLS add to the program? These are the questions that TBLS is currently asking Texas legal assistants in an informal but important questionnaire. ''The 2 Minute Favor'' questionnaire will help TBLS determine the future direction of legal assistant certification. TBLS is polling all members of LAD and local organizations. Additionally, TBLS has mailed the questionnaires to all certified attorneys with the intent that they will pass the questionnaire on to their legal assistants. If you have not received a questionnaire by the end of November, please give us a call so that we can get your ideas.

CONCLUSION

These are only a few of the reasons why the Texas Board of Legal Specialization's Legal Assistant Certification Program is an extraordinary program for Texas and the nation. If you would like to receive a 1995 application for the April 13, 1996 examination, please contact TBLS at (512)463-1454 or 1800-204-2222. The 1995 Application deadline is December 1, 1995.
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