The Directors of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS) recently announced that it appointed Stephenson Fournier partner Chris Hanno to its Real Estate Law Exam Commission. His three-year term runs from March 24, 2023, through February 1, 2026. Mr. Hanno will help TBLS oversee the two-day exam period (October 2-3). In addition, he will help draft the exams and make updates and revisions.
Board Certified is a mark of excellence
The TBLS was established in 1974 by the state’s Supreme Court. Its goal is to certify that lawyers and paralegals in different legal fields have substantial and relevant experience in specific areas. To award certification in one of 27 areas of law, TBLS requires that specialists have five years of practice experience, complete 60 hours of continuing education, and pass the exam Mr. Hanno will now help oversee. Board Certified attorneys must meet additional criteria to keep their certification and renew it every five years.
A step further than passing a bar exam and getting a license to practice, legal professionals with Board Certification are “experts” in their area of law. Lawyers and paralegals often proudly include “Board Certified” as a mark of excellence when listing their credentials. It is a distinguished accomplishment within the Texas legal community: Of the 110,000 licensed lawyers in Texas, only 7,050 attorneys are Board Certified.