TBLS

1. What is a Board Certified Immigration and Nationality Law attorney?

A Board Certified Immigration and Nationality Law attorney is an attorney who has demonstrated
special competence in practicing immigration and nationality law and whose competence has been
certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

The Texas Board of Legal Specialization was created by the Supreme Court of Texas, and the
Board members are appointed by the President of the State Bar of Texas. The Board, in turn,
administers the program through which an attorney may demonstrate special competence in a
particular area of law practice.

Ms. Yanpin Yang is a Board Certified Immigration and Nationality Law attorney by the Texas Board
of Legal Specialization.

2. How many attorneys are currently Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by
the Texas State Bar?

Approximately 102 Texas attorneys are now Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law. Ms.
Yanpin Yang is one of the few Asian attorneys and the first natives from mainland China to get
board certified.

3. What are the general requirements for Board Certification in Immigration and
Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization?

To become a board certified in Immigration and Nationality Law area, an attorney must have:
•        Been licensed to practice law for at least 5 years;
•        Practiced immigration and nationality law for at least 3 years;
•        Devoted a minimum of 25% of their law practice to immigration and nationality law;
•        Handled a wide variety of immigration and nationality law matters to demonstrate experience
and involvement;
•        Attended immigration and nationality law continuing legal education seminars regularly to
keep their legal training up to date;
•        Been evaluated by fellow lawyers, opposing counsels, and judges; and
•        Passed a six-hour written examination.

4. What is a Board Certified Immigration and Nationality Law attorney entitled to do?

Board certified Immigration and Nationality Law attorneys are entitled to indicate certification on
business cards and letterhead by using the expression "Board Certified- Immigration and Nationality
Law- Texas Board of Legal Specialization". They may display the Certificate of Special Competence
awarded by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and list the certification in legal directories and
telephone listings under "Attorneys- Board Certified".

5. What minimum qualifications must a Board Certified Immigration and Nationality Law
attorney meet?

A lawyer who is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal
Specialization must have advised clients and prepared necessary documentation to secure their
right to live and work in the U.S. under appropriate nonimmigrant visa or lawful permanent resident
status. The lawyer must also have prepared and filed appropriate visa petitions to obtain and retain
U.S citizenship, and must have represented clients in removal or deportation and other
administrative or quasi-judicial hearings. The lawyer must have handled cases that involved
complex and complicated legal issues.

6. Is a Board Certified Immigration and Nationality Law attorney better than others who
are not Board Certified?

Board certification is a voluntary designation program for attorneys. There are good attorneys who
are not board certified. Since a Board Certified attorney has been through the pre-screening
process – evaluation of complexity and diversity of cases he or she has handled, evaluations and
recommendations of peer attorneys, opposing counsels, and judges – and has passed a rigorous
day-long written examination which covers almost every aspect of Immigration and Nationality Law,
board certification can be a quality surety in lawyer shopping and is a very good indicator of the
attorney’s professional competence.

LAW OFFICES OF YANG & ASSOCIATES, PLLC

6689 W. Sam Houston Pkwy South, Suite 302, Houston, Texas 77072
Phone: (713) 271-9264; Fax: (713) 271-9265