When you find yourself in need of a personal injury attorney, it may be important to know how to identify the best in the field, or at least the best in your jurisdiction.
One key way to do this is by looking at their certifications and awards. Here, we outline 20 of the most common and prestigious recognitions that personal injury attorneys can earn.
- The American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) is a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges—members are considered among the most qualified attorneys in the nation. The American Association for Justice (AAJ), formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, provides resources to its members to ensure they can effectively represent plaintiffs in need.
- The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) is a non-profit organization that certifies lawyers in various areas of law, including civil trial advocacy—having this certification indicates a high level of competence. Likewise, being named among The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers is a notable achievement; it is an invitation-only organization composed of the premier trial lawyers from each state.
- Super Lawyers is a rating service that identifies outstanding lawyers in over 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings, on the other hand, are an objective indicator of a lawyer’s high ethical standards and professional ability, based on evaluations by other members of the bar and the judiciary.
- Members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum are a select group of attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. Best Lawyers in America and Best Law Firms in America are rankings based on rigorous evaluation processes, inclusive of client and lawyer evaluations, and peer review from leading attorneys in their field.
- The National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys (NAOPIA), the National Association of Distinguished Counsel (NADC), and the National Association of Personal Injury Attorneys (NAPIA) are organizations that recognize excellence in personal injury law, providing resources and networking opportunities for their members.
- The National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), while not a certification, offers continuing legal education in the form of advocacy training for legal professionals—having NITA training is a testament to an attorney’s commitment to honing their skills.
- The American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys (AIOPIA) and The American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) recognize the top personal injury attorneys in each state, as does The International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL), but on an international scale.
- The Litigation Counsel of America (LCA) is an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society, which recognizes excellence among American litigation and trial counsel.
- Lastly, The American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Litigation and the ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section are specialized groups within the ABA—membership signifies a dedication to the development and improvement of trial and litigation skills.
When choosing a personal injury attorney, these certifications and awards can help identify those who have demonstrated exceptional skill, experience, and ethical standards in their practice. So, when you see these recognitions in an attorney’s credentials, you can rest assured—you’re likely in good hands.
