The National Board of Trial Advocacy
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersWrentham, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
The National Board of Trial Advocacy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The National Board of Trial Advocacy
- Legal name
- National Board of Trial Advocacy
- Website
- https://nbtalawyers.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The National Board of Trial Advocacy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Legal Professional Certification Services
- NAICS
- Other Legal Services (54119), All Other Legal Services (541199), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro industry
- Legal, Governance, Privacy & Audit CertificationsProfessional & Occupational Licensing Examination AuthoritiesEducation/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Assessment, Examinations & Qualifications AuthoritiesNational/State Examination Boards & Testing AgenciesEducation/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Assessment, Examinations & Qualifications Authorities
Keywords
Where The National Board of Trial Advocacy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wrentham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
The National Board of Trial Advocacy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Board Certification Fees: New board certification fees include a $400 application fee and $400 examination/certification fee for all specialties. These are one-time fees for initial certification.
- Recertification Fees: Recertification required every five years at $500 for all specialties, $300 for senior status attorneys, and $200 for government employees with discount codes.
- Annual Reporting Fees: Annual reporting fee of $450 plus $200 for each additional certification. Senior status pays $200 with no additional fee for multiple certifications. Government employees pay $100.
- Board Eligible Examination Fees: $75 fee for Parts A and B of the Board Eligible examination (Civil Evidence and Civil Ethics, 30 multiple choice questions each). $325 fee for Part C of the examination when completing full certification.
- State Accreditation Fees: Various states require accreditation fees from NBTA for state-specific certifications.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Initial Board Certification - All Specialties |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Recertification - Standard |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Recertification - Senior Status |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Recertification - Government Employees |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Reporting - Standard |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Reporting - Senior Status |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Reporting - Government Employees |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Board Eligible - Parts A & B |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Civil Practice Advocacy Part C |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels12 records
The National Board of Trial Advocacy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The National Board of Trial Advocacy delivers ABA-accredited board certification for licensed attorneys across nine specialty areas (Civil Trial Law, Civil Practice Advocacy, Complex Litigation, Criminal Trial Law, Family Trial Law, Immigration Law, Patent Litigation, Social Security Disability Law, and Truck Accident Law) via a multi-component assessment of experience, peer references, written examinations proctored remotely, and ongoing CLE requirements. It also provides a Board Eligible Designation for law students and recent graduates and maintains a public Attorney Search Directory connecting consumers with certified counsel. Certification, recertification, and annual reporting fees constitute the core paid offerings.
Product overview
The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) operates as a single unified certification program offering nine distinct board certification specialty areas for attorneys. The core offerings consist of Civil Trial Law, Civil Practice Advocacy, Complex Litigation, Criminal Trial Law, Family Trial Law, Immigration Law, Patent Litigation, Social Security Disability Law, and Truck Accident Law certifications. Additionally, NBTA offers a Board Eligible designation for law students and recent graduates as a pathway toward Civil Practice Advocacy certification. The organization also provides a public attorney search directory. All certifications are accredited by the American Bar Association and require passing examinations, meeting experience requirements, and maintaining ongoing continuing legal education standards.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Civil Trial Law Board Certification
- Civil Practice Advocacy Board Certification
- Complex Litigation Board Certification
- Criminal Trial Law Board Certification
- Family Trial Law Board Certification
- Immigration Law Board Certification
- Patent Litigation Board Certification
- Social Security Disability Law Board Certification
- Truck Accident Law Board Certification
- Board Eligible Designation
- Public Attorney Search Directory
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,400+ attorneys certified nationwide
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The National Board of Trial Advocacy
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The National Board of Trial Advocacy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability4 records
Feature4 records
The National Board of Trial Advocacy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- International Academy of Trial LawyersflagshipNBTA signed a Joint Statement with the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Defending the Rule of Law Amid Rising Attacks on the Judiciary and Legal Profession. Both organizations pledged to continue fighting to safeguard the Constitution and the Rule of Law. This partnership represents a significant alliance between two leading trial advocacy organizations.
- NBTA FoundationcoreNBTA Foundation, Inc. (501(c)(3) charitable organization) promotes NBTA's educational and charitable activities. The foundation's founding board includes David Rapoport (NBTA Foundation President, Past NBTA President), Keith Clifford (Immediate Past NBTA President), Barry Nace (Past NBTA President), Justice Rebecca Dallet, Justice Chari Kelly, Professor Tracy McCormack, Bill Horton, Gary McNeil, and Chris Arnell.
- National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA)coreNBTA and NITA co-sponsor the Tournament of Champions, among the most prestigious law school trial competitions in the country. The invitation-only competition showcases top law students from 16 trial advocacy institutions, with intensive one-on-one coaching from top-tier professionals.
- State Bar Associations (50 states + DC)coreNBTA works with state bar associations across all 50 states and DC for accreditation and recognition of its board certifications. State coordinators operate as liaisons between state agencies and NBTA. States include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)minorNBTA accepts the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Fellows Exam in lieu of the NBTA Exam for Family Trial Law certification. This exam waiver is recognized for attorneys in Alabama, Maine, New Jersey, North Carolina, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
- Examsoft (Examplify)coreNBTA uses Examsoft's Examplify software for remote proctoring of certification examinations. Examinations are given twice per year using this platform for Board Eligible and full certification exams.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The National Board of Trial Advocacy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS): The ABMS is the leading physician board certification body in the US, serving as the closest structural analog to NBTA's role in the legal profession. Both organizations operate specialty certification programs with rigorous multi-component assessment, and NBTA explicitly modeled itself on the medical board certification concept.
- American College of Trial Lawyers: The American College of Trial Lawyers is an invitation-only honorary society recognizing the top trial lawyers in the US and Canada. While not a certification body, it addresses similar recognition and credentialing needs among elite trial attorneys.
Direct peers
- National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): NBCC is a national counselor certification body that uses a similar multi-component assessment model (examination, experience, ethics) to certify mental health professionals. It represents a structural parallel in the counseling profession to NBTA's role in the legal profession.
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML): AAML is a fellows organization for family law attorneys that has an exam waiver agreement with NBTA, meaning AAML Fellows can use their AAML exam in lieu of NBTA's Family Trial Law exam. They compete and cooperate in family law attorney credentialing.
- Florida Bar Certification Program: The Florida Bar's board certification program is a direct competitor in Florida, requiring Florida Bar certification as a prerequisite for NBTA certification in the state. It operates with similar specialty areas and recognition authority within the state.
- Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS): Texas Board of Legal Specialization is a state-level attorney certification body that directly competes with NBTA in Texas, where applicants must obtain TBLS certification before pursuing NBTA credentials. Both organizations certify attorneys in similar specialty areas using multi-component examinations.
Emerging players
- Lawyer Legion: Lawyer Legion is an online attorney directory that provides professional recognition and profiles for attorneys, serving a related consumer-facing function to NBTA's attorney search directory. It operates in adjacent credentialing space without formal certification authority.
- National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA): NITA is a strategic partner of NBTA that co-sponsors the Tournament of Champions, but operates a parallel track in trial advocacy training and education. While not a direct certification competitor, NITA addresses overlapping needs for trial lawyer skill development.
- International Academy of Trial Lawyers: IATL is a prestigious invitation-only trial lawyer society that signed a Joint Statement with NBTA in April 2025. It serves a related but higher-prestige function, recognizing trial lawyer excellence through fellowship rather than examination-based certification.
Others
- National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA): NCCA is the accreditation body for professional certification programs across industries, including legal and non-legal certifications. It does not compete directly with NBTA but establishes the standards NBTA's certification programs must meet for broader recognition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The National Board of Trial Advocacy social profiles
Digital presenceThe National Board of Trial Advocacy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
The National Board of Trial Advocacy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The National Board of Trial Advocacy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
The National Board of Trial Advocacy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The National Board of Trial Advocacy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The National Board of Trial Advocacy
What does The National Board of Trial Advocacy do?
The National Board of Trial Advocacy delivers ABA-accredited board certification for licensed attorneys across nine specialty areas (Civil Trial Law, Civil Practice Advocacy, Complex Litigation, Criminal Trial Law, Family Trial Law, Immigration Law, Patent Litigation, Social Security Disability Law, and Truck Accident Law) via a multi-component assessment of experience, peer references, written examinations proctored remotely, and ongoing CLE requirements. It also provides a Board Eligible Designation for law students and recent graduates and maintains a public Attorney Search Directory connecting consumers with certified counsel. Certification, recertification, and annual reporting fees constitute the core paid offerings.
Is The National Board of Trial Advocacy a public or private company?
The National Board of Trial Advocacy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The National Board of Trial Advocacy founded?
The National Board of Trial Advocacy was founded in 1977. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The National Board of Trial Advocacy based?
The National Board of Trial Advocacy is headquartered in Wrentham, United States, in the North America region.
How does The National Board of Trial Advocacy make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Board Certification Fees are the primary driver. The others are recertification Fees, annual Reporting Fees, board Eligible Examination Fees and state Accreditation Fees.
Who are The National Board of Trial Advocacy's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and American College of Trial Lawyers. Direct peers are National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), Florida Bar Certification Program and Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS). Emerging players are Lawyer Legion, National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) and International Academy of Trial Lawyers. National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) is listed as an others.
Does The National Board of Trial Advocacy have an API?
No public API is recorded for The National Board of Trial Advocacy.
What industry is The National Board of Trial Advocacy in?
The National Board of Trial Advocacy's product category is Legal Professional Certification Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAANAN, Legal, Governance, Privacy & Audit Certifications, with a secondary code of EDADAFAD, Professional & Occupational Licensing Examination Authorities. Its NAICS code is 54119 and its SIC code is 8111.