Awards and Certifications
Robert C. Hilliard has been trying cases in front of a jury for nearly 30 years. He is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the area of Civil Trial Law (1992) and Personal Injury Trial Law (1990).
In order to become Board Certified, Mr. Hilliard undertook two six hour exams for each of his certification areas. In addition to passing the exams, Mr. Hilliard had to meet the experience requirements for each Certification area involving lead Trial Counsel and Litigation in both Personal Injury and Civil Trial Law. Furthermore, Board Certified attorneys must meet specific criteria for recertification every five years that entails continued legal education in each practice area, have substantial involvement in those areas of the law and submit to peer review for each area of legal specialization.
Of the current 82,000 attorneys licensed to practice law in the State of Texas, only 1,740 are Board certified in Personal Injury Law and only 1,160 lawyers are Board Certified in Civil Trial Law. As you can see from the disparity between the number of lawyers licensed to those that are Board Certified, a very small percentage of all of the licensed attorneys in Texas are Board Certified. An even smaller percentage of those 82,000 attorneys are Double Board Certified like Mr. Hilliard.
The Litigation Counsel of America is an invitation- only trial lawyer honorary society established to reflect the new face of the American Bar. Membership is limited to 3,500 Fellows, representing less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. The composition of the LCA is aggressively diverse, with recognition of excellence among American litigation and trial counsel across all segments of the bar. The purpose of the LCA is to recognize deserving, experienced, and highly qualified lawyers, to provide an outlet for scholarly authorship of legal articles on trial and litigation practice, to provide additional sources for professional development, to promote superior advocacy and ethical standards in the practice of law, to assist in community involvement by its membership, and to advance a superior judiciary, by taking relevant positions on issues or legislation affecting judicial compensation and/or benefits, as well as those affecting the American litigation processes.
Fellows are selected and invited into Fellowship after being evaluated on effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation and trial work, along with ethical reputation. The number of Fellowships has been kept at an exclusive limit by design, allowing qualifications, diversity and inclusion to align effectively. Fellows are generally at the partner or shareholder level or are independent practitioners with several years experience. Fellows may also include judges, professors of law, governmental attorneys and in-house counsel. Upon high recommendation by a Fellow, a limited number of Associate Fellows may be selected, generally pending qualification for Fellowship. Associate Fellows may include partners or associates from the same firm in which the Fellows practice or with any other ethically reputable firm, governmental division or company. Unless their practice changes from litigation or trial work or their general ethical reputation has been diminished, Fellows may hold their status as long as they desire to be affiliated with the LCA. Fellows who hold such status for seven consecutive years may be designated Senior Fellows.
The LCA will also recognize a limited number of accomplished lawyers for inclusion as Honorary Fellows. Practicing, retired or deceased lawyers, judges, elected officials and other distinguished jurists may be nominated for such recognition; however, Honorary Fellows are not considered part of the voting membership. Depending upon the exemplary qualifications of candidates, at least ten Honorary Fellows per year will be chosen, with consideration for such honor being pursuant to nominations by Fellows. Honorary Fellows will be recognized for career achievements, furthering professionalism and/or diversity in the practice of law, noted trial results, being an influence of regional or national significance in the area of litigation or trial work or any other body of work deemed worthy of high recognition.
With ever-diminishing percentages of cases actually reaching trial, American litigation practice has been redefined. Too often truly effective counsel are overlooked for acknowledgement of expertise and superiority because courtroom experience is now at a premium. While trial experience is an important factor in LCA selection, it is also a fact that great litigators sometimes win before trial.
Robert C. Hilliard
Texas Super Lawyers 2011
Texas Super Lawyers 2010
Texas Super Lawyers 2009
Texas Super Lawyers 2008
Texas Super Lawyers 2007
Texas Super Lawyers 2006
Texas Super Lawyers 2004
Texas Super Lawyers 2003
Rudy Gonzales, Jr.
Texas Super Lawyers 2011
Texas Super Lawyers 2010
Texas Super Lawyers 2009
Texas Super Lawyers 2008
Texas Super Lawyers 2007
Texas Super Lawyers 2006
