Austin, TX family law attorney Bill Powers shares what it means to be board-certified and discusses his honors, awards & credentials. He explains that, first of all, to be board certified, an attorney must have practiced for at least five years and have more than 25 percent of their practice devoted to the specific area in which they seek certification. In addition, peers and judges must recognize that the attorney meets a level of competence qualifying them for board certification. The attorney must also have handled a required number of cases involving specific amounts in controversy, including complex custody cases, appellate work, and jury trials. Once all of that is completed and the qualifications are met, the attorney takes a specialized examination, and upon passing, earns board certification. He notes that the percentage of family law attorneys in Texas who are board certified is relatively low—likely under five percent.

He adds that Martindale-Hubbell, the oldest and most esteemed lawyer rating directory, assigns AV ratings, and he has held an AV rating for many years. In addition, he has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for ten years, while colleagues Kayvon and Jamie have been rated as Rising Stars and will eventually qualify as Super Lawyers themselves. Another rating organization, AVVO, evaluates lawyers based on peer and client reviews; he notes that all three of them have ratings above nine, with his rating being a perfect 10—the highest possible, which is considered superb. These accolades, he says, reflect their commitment and recognition within the profession.