Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS) recently announced Cordell & Cordell Senior Attorney Lauren Melhart received Board Certification in Family Law, one of only 34 family law attorneys to receive this prestigious designation in 2014.
Board Certification is a voluntary designation program certifying Texas attorneys in 21 specific areas of law. Board Certified attorneys must be licensed for at least five years, devote a required percentage of practice to a specialty area for at least three years, attend continuing education seminars, pass an evaluation by fellow lawyers and judges and pass a 6-hour written examination.
“An attorney has to do something extra to get certified and then they have to continue to work and acquire knowledge in their specialty area to remain certified. You could say it is a life-long commitment,” said R. Hal Moorman, Chairman of the TBLS Board of Directors.
Ms. Melhart, who currently practices in Fort Worth, received her Juris Doctor from Baylor University. As an undergraduate, she earned her B.S. in Political Science magna cum laude and her B.B.A in Accounting & Finance magna cum laude from Texas Christian University.
Prior to joining Cordell & Cordell, Ms. Melhart spent several years as a Child Protective Services prosecutor. During that time, she received the award for excellence in serving children from Court Appointed Special Advocates of Trinity Valley and had a 100 percent success rate in jury trials and 100 percent affirmance on all appeals.
Ms. Melhart also was a felony prosecutor in East Texas with a 100 percent success rate as first chair in jury trials in addition to 100 percent affirmation on all appeals.
Board Certification is offered in 21 specific areas of law to attorneys. Initial certification is valid for five years. To remain certified attorneys and paralegals must apply for recertification every five years and meet substantial involvement, peer review and continuing legal education requirements for their specialty area.
To learn more about Board Certification or find a certified attorney or paralegal in your area visit www.tbls.org.
About TBLS
Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS) is authorized by the Supreme Court of Texas. It certifies attorney in 21 specific areas of law and paralegals in six specific areas. TBLS serves as a resource by listing all certified attorneys and paralegals on their online database. TBLS works to ensure that the citizens of Texas receive the highest quality legal services.
To arrange an initial consultation to discuss divorce rights for men with a Cordell & Cordell attorney, including Texas divorce lawyer Lauren Melhart, contact Cordell & Cordell.
Written by Joseph E. Cordell
Joseph E. Cordell is the Principal Partner at Cordell and Cordell, P.C., which he founded in 1990 with his wife, Yvonne. Over the past 25 years, the firm has grown to include more than 100 offices in 30 states, as well as internationally in the United Kingdom. Mr. Cordell is licensed to practice in the states of Illinois and Missouri and received his LL.M. from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Joseph E. Cordell was named one of the Top 10 Best Family Law Attorneys for Client Satisfaction in Missouri.
