Idaho Trial Lawyers Offering Certification

The Idaho Trial Lawyers Association is the first such association in the country to operate a statewide certification program.

Attorneys who meet the qualifications will be certified as civil trial specialists or criminal trial specialists. The association also will start a certification program for attorneys in workers’ compensation as soon as that plan is approved by the Idaho State Bar Association.

Kay Shields, executive director of the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association, said the program is the first of its kind. “We recognized a need based upon public awareness in this area, and we responded to it with this program,” she said in a prepared statement.

To qualify for certification, an attorney must have practiced law for at least five years, specializing in trial law, with “substantial experience” in the field that will be certified.

An attorney can apply for certification in both civil and criminal trial work.

Requirements include at least 10 trials at the District Court level, with at least seven jury trials in which the attorney applying for civil certification was lead attorney. For criminal certification, the lawyer applying must have been involved in at least 15 trials, at least 10 at the District Court level involving juries.

The applying attorney also must have the endorsement of at least 10 other trial attorneys, at least two of whom must be opposing attorneys. An endorsement by two District Court judges also is necessary, and a written examination will be required after the first year of the program.

The association said that so far, Jim C. Harris of Boise, Lloyd Webb of Twin Falls and Fred Hoopes of Idaho Falls have been certified as trial specialists.

Next month, a five-member certification committee will review about 20 additional applications.

Harris, a former Ada County prosecutor, said many trial lawyers in Idaho recognized the need for a certification program because lawyers are allowed unrestricted advertising.

“Many of these attorneys are holding themselves out as trial specialists when, in fact, they are potentially lacking in experience and ability,” Harris said.

Harris said certification should bring an improvement in service provided by Idaho attorneys.