Our Board Certification

What does it mean to be a Board Certified Criminal Trial Specialist?

Attorney Diamond is one of the few criminal defense attorneys in Connecticut to be Board Certified. He is certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Criminal Trial Specialist.

Here is the rigorous procedure Attorney Diamond had to go through in order to obtain that distinction:

He had to submit a list of names of judges and lawyers who are contacted by the NBTA to independently verify his skill, experience and his reputation for ethical and professional conduct.
He had to establish that he is in good standing with the state bar association.
He had to pass a day-long written examination.
He had to submit actual copies of his written legal work for review.
He had to provide documentation to prove his active involvement in multiple trials before judges and juries.

Why Should It Matter?

Most criminal cases never actually go to trial. This is because they are "settled " out of court with plea agreements.

What will motivate prosecutors to make you a reasonable offer? If you are represented by an experienced trial lawyer who is making reasonable request on your behalf, the opposition knows it would probably be foolish to take the case to trial against an experienced, skilled litigator.

On the other hand, if the prosecutor knows something you don't know - that your lawyer has virtually no experience in court or has demonstrated a serious lack of skill in court - the opposition is much less likely to meet your demands because they feel confident about their chances of success against your lawyer in court.

For these reasons, the most powerful advantage you can have is a lawyer who is known to be a highly-skilled trial lawyer. The odds are much greater that such a lawyer will be able to successfully negotiate a plea agreement for you.

Litigation is often times compared to war. In litigation, as in war, the side with the greatest skill and experience is usually able to avoid conflict because the opposition is not willing to risk the consequences against such a capable opponent.

Therefore, as strange as it may seem at first, your chances of successfully being defended are much better when you are represented by a skilled, experienced trial lawyer who is well-known and respected by the opposition. The NBTA simply makes these lawyers known to the public by identifying them as "Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy."

Click here to obtain more information about the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

The above is not legal advice. That can only come from a qualified attorney who is familiar with all the facts and circumstances of a particular, specific case and the relevant law. See Terms of Use.