Based in Wrentham, Massachusetts, the NBTA's stated mission is to "inform and educate the public concerning legal representation by board-certified specialists" and "recognize and promote excellence in legal advocacy through a national program certifying specialists predicated on high standards of demonstrated competence and integrity."
NBTA is the largest and oldest of the eight private board-certification organizations for attorneys that the American Bar Association (ABA) accredits through its Standing Committee on Specialization.
However, the idea of board certification for trial lawyers was new, and one author describes the reaction of the American legal profession as "startled.".
Shortly thereafter, the NBTA became fully self-supporting and set up offices on Tremont Street one block from Government Center.
This includes "documentation of their experience, judicial and peer references, an exam, and they must report all disciplinary matters brought before any official body, whether public or private, for scrutiny by the NBTA Standards Committee.
"[8] An attorney who meets NBTA's stringent requirements and becomes board-certified remains an active member for five years and may apply for re-certification after this time.
The Minnesota Supreme Court wrote that the "NBTA applies a rigorous and exacting set of standards and examinations on a national scale before certifying a lawyer as a trial specialist."
Thus, when Chief Justice Burger called for board certification of trial lawyers, one author described the American legal profession as "startled".
[11] Now, there is a greater prevalence of trial advocacy training in law schools and continuing legal education,[12] and attorney board certification is well established and growing.