Polito & Harrington, a Waterford - New London, CT Personal Injury Law Firm
Waterford – New London, CT & RI personal injury lawyer, Humbert Polito and James Harringtion are Board Certified in Civil Trial Advocacy. This certification comes from the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA), and only 2 percent of all lawyers ever receive it.
To qualify, an attorney must have handled a certain number of cases; must receive recommendations from judges and other lawyers; must pass a rigorous day–long exam; and must maintain a spotless ethical record.
This certification is extremely important to us at Polito & Harrington because we want our clients to know that we take the legal process seriously and will effectively advocate for your rights in the event your case goes to trial.
If you were injured and would like to discuss your rights and how we can assist you in the legal process, please call our Waterford – New London CT or RI personal injury lawyers to discuss your situation today.
What is NBTA Board Certification?
The National Board of Trial Advocacy started in 1977 to recognize and encourage a higher standard of assistance and representation by lawyers at trial. Trial is a complex process and there is often a significant amount on the line for clients. By choosing an inexperienced or unmotivated attorney, a person can lose a lot and often unnecessarily. By recognizing trial attorneys throughout the United States who have proven skill, determination, and success in the courtroom, the NBTA also helps consumers find the most qualified trial attorneys to handle their case.
The American Bar Association (ABA) has accredited the NBTA to certify qualified lawyers in their specialized areas of law, which include civil trial law, family trial law, and criminal trial law, among others. Such accreditation was only achieved after a rigorous evaluation of the certification process and standards of the NBTA. This assures you that the NBTA is not simply an organization that recognizes attorneys based on paid memberships but is genuinely recognizing the highest quality of trial attorneys in the U.S.
Humbert Polito and James Harrington are proud to be named among the best trial attorneys in the nation by NBTA and you can count on our level of service no matter what type of case you may have.
Qualifications for Certification
To understand how important this type of certification can be, you should know that the process of obtaining certification can be long and demanding for attorneys who apply. No attorney has any requirements waived or is “grandfathered” in by the NBTA, so you can rest assured that Board Certified attorneys worked hard to achieve this level of recognition.
There are several standards that an attorney must first meet before consideration for Board Certification in civil trial law, some of which include:
- The lawyer is in good standing with the Bar in all states in which they practice
- They have been actively practicing in civil litigation for five or more years
- A substantial part of their law practice is dedicated to civil litigation
- They have participated in a minimum amount of actual trial practice
- They remain educated in civil trial practice trends through Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses and programs or by teaching courses
- 10 to 12 peers (not direct associates) provide references for the attorney, including at least three judges who have overseen a trial conducted by the applicant
- They must demonstrate their thorough knowledge of civil trial law by taking a written exam
- They must submit a legal writing sample for review
- Their past conduct must be in line with NBTA standards for excellence
The application process and review can take up to two years for some attorneys. This time commitment and effort it takes to even apply is an indication that Board Certification truly meant a lot to any attorney who has obtained this recognition.
If you have a personal injury case, you should always seek out a well-respected and experienced civil trial attorney who is recognized for success in the legal field. Board Certification in civil trial law goes to show you can trust the team at Polito & Harrington to skillfully and reliably represent your best interests in court. Call today for more information about our legal services.
Will your case go to trial?
Many people have only had experience with trials by seeing them in movies and on television. Even if you have filed a legal claim in the past, many cases are able to reach a favorable settlement before the trial date, eliminating the need for a trial.
However, while only a small percentage of personal injury cases go to trial, your case could easily be one of them. There is no way to exactly predict whether or not the party that injured you will agree to a settlement offer. Therefore, a qualified attorney will always work on a case as if preparing for a trial whether or not that is the true outcome.
Some attorneys want to avoid trial at all costs - either because they are not confident in their trial skills or do not want to spend the time and effort to prepare for trial. In such cases, an attorney may push you into accepting a settlement offer that may be less than what you truly deserve.
At Polito & Harrington, the trial lawyer Board Certification of Humbert Polito & James Harrington are only one sign that we will take your case seriously and will never push you to settle to avoid trial. We take pride in our trial abilities and understand that trial is necessary for the best results in some cases.
Providing quality representation at trial is not a simple matter. It requires thorough knowledge of all relevant laws and civil procedures, as well as the quickness of thinking to respond to possible violations of your rights, make legal arguments, and to adjust witness questioning as necessary. Not every attorney has these skills and choosing someone without adequate trial experience or skill can be a huge detriment and can even cost you your entire case.
Selecting an attorney who has been Board Certified in civil trial law by the NBTA can ensure that you have the representation you need for a successful result. Please call Polito and Harrington for help today.
We will work hard to hold people and companies responsible for injuries caused by their carelessness.
Injuries can significantly disrupt your life in many ways, including your finances, your job, and your general enjoyment of life. If another party caused your accident and injuries in any way, you have the right to financial recovery for all of your losses. Seeking this compensation can often require filing a lawsuit and you want to ensure you have the best legal team possible behind you through the complex litigation process.
For a free consultation with one of our Waterford – New London CT or RI personal injury lawyers to discuss negligence litigation, call (860) 447-3300 or contact us online.