Attorney Charles Thompson, of the Law Offices of Thompson and de Leef, is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Here are some frequently asked questions about Board Certification.

Q: What does "Board Certified" mean?

A: Board Certification is a voluntary designation program for attorneys and paralegals. Initial certification is valid for a period of five years. To remain certified, an attorney and paralegal must apply for recertification every five years and meet substantial involvement, peer review and continuing legal education requirements for the specialty area.

To become Board Certified in a specialty area, an attorney must have:

• Been licensed to practice law for at least five years;
• Devoted a required percentage of practice to a specialty area for at least three years;
• Handled a wide variety of matters in the area to demonstrate experience and involvement;
• Attended continuing education seminars regularly to keep legal training up to date;
• Been evaluated by fellow lawyers and judges;
• Passed a 6-hour written examination.

Q: What's special about being certified in Criminal Law?

A: Certified Criminal Law specialists have experience in the preparation and trial of serious criminal matters. They have extensive knowledge of state and federal constitutional law, evidence, procedure and penal laws involved in these matters.