The National Board of Trial Advocacy was founded in 1977 as a non-profit organization, dedicated to bettering the quality of trial advocacy in our nation's courtrooms and helping consumers find experienced and highly qualified trial lawyers. Theodore I. Koskoff was the founder and, until 1987, served as the President and Chairman of the Board. The NBTA is accredited by the American Bar Association to certify lawyers in the specialty areas of civil trial law, criminal trial law, family trial law, civil pretrial practice law and social security disability advocacy law. The standards set forth by our Board of Directors for board certification in each of our specialty areas are challenging and meaningful. NBTA board certification is a voluntary certification. It is not a requirement to practice law and, therefore, any lawyer who has taken the extra time and effort to achieve this credential can be justifiably proud. A consumer who chooses an NBTA member for a lawyer can be sure of obtaining a highly experienced and specialized practitioner.