Updated February 19, 2020


I.  LEVEL ONE:

Qualifications:

A.  Experience required for appointments for conduct in need of supervision and delinquent conduct when a commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department is not an authorized disposition

         

a.  An attorney must have been licensed to practice law for minimum of one year or have successfully completed a mentoring program for attorneys approved by the Juvenile Board.

b.  An attorney shall have observed at least: five stipulated juvenile adjudications, five contested juvenile adjudications, three juvenile dispositions and five detention hearings.


Attorneys appointed as Level One are as follows:


II.  LEVEL TWO:

Qualifications:

A.  Experience required for appointments for delinquent conduct and where an indeterminate commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department is an authorized disposition.

           

a.   An attorney must have been licensed to practice for one year, and

b.   An attorney must have substantial and active participation in:  

                     

i.  five juvenile or criminal (class B misdemeanor or above) jury trials, and either

ii.  ten juvenile adjudications or modifications (contested or uncontested) or ten criminal pleas, or a combination of these totaling ten proceedings.


Attorneys appointed as Level Two are as follows:


III.  LEVEL THREE:


Qualifications:

A.  Experience required for appointments for determinate sentencing or certification proceedings

           

a.  An attorney must have been licensed to practice for five years, and

b.  An attorney must:

                     


1.   Be board certified in juvenile or criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, or

2.   Have substantial and active participation in five felony jury trials (juvenile or criminal) and one determinate sentence trial and must have been lead counsel in two district court level jury trials, or

3.   Have been lead counsel in five felony (juvenile or criminal) jury trials.


Attorneys appointed as Level Three are as follows:


IV.   LEVEL FOUR:


Qualifications:

A.  Experience required for appointment for appeals

           

1.  An attorney qualified for trial appointment for any level can receive appellate appointment at that same level, or

2.  An attorney must have completed five juvenile or criminal appeals.  


Attorneys appointed as Level Four are as follows: