Home> Specialty Certifications> TBLS - Texas Board of Legal Specialization >Child Welfare Law
TBLS
Logo of the TBLS
Contribute to the information on this page: Suggest Edits
Back to profile

Certified Welfare Law Board Certification by the TBLS

According to Part II of the Section XX of the Specific Area Requirements for Child Welfare Law, the term “child welfare law” is defined as litigating suits under Title 5, Subtitle E of the Texas Family Code and issues that arise in suits by a governmental entity for the protection of an abused or neglected child, including but not limited to:

  • the possession and conservatorship of a child;
  • the termination of parental rights;
  • the placement of a child in foster care; or,
  • the adoption of a child.
Search for a Board Certified Specialist Lawyer

About Child Welfare Law Board Certification in Texas

For the purpose of becoming board certified, TBLS requires attorneys who are focused on child welfare law to have:

  • knowledge of applicable federal law, including the Indian Child Welfare Act, the Adoption and Safe Families Act, the Fostering Connections to Success and Adoption Act, the Safe and Stable Families Act, the Strengthening Families Act, the Every Student Succeeds Act, constitutional law, education law, immigration law, and disability law;
  • knowledge of applicable state law, including the Texas Education Code, the Texas Penal Code, guardianship law, and juvenile law; and
  • experience in the trial or appeal of judicial or administrative proceedings involving a governmental entity for the protection of an abused or neglected child. 

Details

People

Board Certified Child Welfare Law Specialists Active on Lawyer Legion

Patrick Allen Wright
The Wright Firm, L.L.P.
Lewisville, TX
View Profile
Elisa Maloff Reiter
Law Offices of Elisa M. Reiter
Dallas, TX
View Profile
William B Connolly
Connolly & Shireman LLP
Houston, TX
View Profile

Directory of Board Certified Child Welfare Law Specialists in Texas

Lawyer Legion maintains a directory of board certified child welfare law specialists in Texas amongst a broader directory of both board-certified and non-certified attorneys in Texas and throughout the U.S. This directory provides the public with a valuable resource allowing them to narrow their search to local attorneys who have earned board certification in Child Welfare Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Lawyer Legion is the only commercial lawyer directory to properly acknowledge all ABA-accredited specialization programs and provide a dynamic directory of virtually every lawyer who has earned each certification.

Use this directory to connect with lawyers who are board certified Child Welfare Law specialists in Texas. Start by choosing your county from the list below.


Child Welfare Law Lawyers by County

{FullName}

More About Specialty Certification in Child Welfare Law

Requirements for Earning Board Certification in Child Welfare Law

To become board certified in child welfare law, the attorney must show a minimum of 25% of his or her time practicing child welfare law in Texas during each of the three years immediately preceding the application.

The attorney must provide information as required by TBLS concerning specific tasks he or she has performed in Texas child welfare law. In evaluating experience, TBLS may take into consideration the nature, complexity, and duration of the tasks handled by the attorney. 

In the three years immediately preceding the application, the attorney must have served as lead counsel for a party or child from inception of the case or time of appointment or engagement to final judgment in 10 cases that meet one of these requirements:

  • a contested child welfare case in a trial court of record that involves oral testimony and factual findings, excluding default judgments; or
  • an appeal in a child welfare case that is fully briefed on the merits at the appellate level.

An appeal that the attorney prosecutes or defends in an intermediate appellate court and in the Supreme Court of Texas counts as one case.

In the three years immediately preceding the application, the attorney must also have participated in 20 cases that meet one of these requirements:

  • a contested child welfare case in which the attorney served as lead counsel for a party or a child and that was resolved without a trial on the merits; or
  • post-trial proceedings in which the attorney played a substantial role.

For purposes of certification without examination, TBLS may grant certification in child welfare law without requiring a written examination to an applicant who:

  • has been licensed for 10 years;
  • is certified by TBLS in family law;
  • meets all of the requirements of these standards; and
  • applies for certification no later than three years after the effective date of the specialty area. 

Reference Requirements for Child Welfare Law

For purposes of becoming board certified in child welfare law, the TBLS's Standards for Attorney Certification require the attorney to submit a minimum of five names and addresses of persons to be contacted as references to attest to his or her competence in child welfare law.

These persons must be substantially involved in child welfare law, and be familiar with the applicant’s child welfare law practice.

For certification, the attorney must submit names of persons with whom he or she has had dealings involving child welfare law matters within the three years immediately preceding application.

For recertification, the attorney must submit names of persons with whom he or she had dealings involving child welfare law matters since certification or the most recent recertification.

The attorneys must submit the following types of references:

  • Four Texas attorneys who are substantially involved in child welfare law. Applicant must have participated at trial or on appeal or in the negotiation of a child welfare matter in alignment with or in opposition to the attorney.
  • One Texas trial court judge, associate judge or appellate justice before whom the attorney has appeared as lead counsel for a party or a child in a contested child welfare case in a trial or appellate court. 

Other Specialty Areas by the TBLS

Suggest an Edit

Thanks, your suggestion has been sent to our support team
loading...
Saving...