History of the Law Office of Kenneth M. Rodgers

History of the Law Office of Kenneth M. Rodgers
I was educated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania graduating from Philadelphia's Central High School, Pennsylvania's Gettysburg College, and the Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. After passing the bar examination I was admitted to practice in Pennsylvania November 22, 1976, by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. I have been admitted to various other Courts during the years: US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania March 21, 1979, US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit September 26, 1980, and the United States Supreme Court January 21, 1980. I have belonged to various professional associations: Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, Philadelphia Bar Association Worker's Compensation Section, Pennsylvania Bar Association and American Bar Association.

Actually more revelant to any potential client is the fact that I have actually practiced law as a litigator in Philadelphia since becoming a lawyer in November 1976. During that time I have practiced with other lawyers as partners for five years and for the remainder of the time I have practiced as a solo practitioner. I have represented clients in personal injury cases, sexual discrimination cases, product liability cases, workers' compensation claims and in a variety of other claim issues.

Most revelant to any potential client is the fact that I have been Board Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and have been awarded the highest rating of the Martindale Hubble attorney reference service.

The Board Certification process is best described by the National Board of Trial Advocacy itself:

NBTA Certification:
The National Board of Trial Advocacy, or NBTA, was created in the public interest to identify lawyers who demonstrate that they are skilled, capable, ethical trial lawyers. In the area of medical services, we are all familiar with board certification of physicians. When we see that a doctor is board certified, we know that doctor has been tested and examined by an independent group of physicians who have verified that the doctor is properly qualified and skilled in his or her field of practice.

In the world of legal services, there was nothing comparable to the system for board certifying doctors. The NBTA came into existence because a small group of highly-respected lawyers of nationwide reputation realized that most people who need a lawyer do not have any reliable way to identify which lawyers are truly capable and competent and which ones are not. The consumer of legal services needed something like the consumer of medical services – a system that publicly identified lawyers as 'board certified'. This small group of consumer-oriented lawyers decided to create an organization that would identify to the public ethical lawyers who were determined to be sufficiently skilled and experienced to be called Board Certified. In 1977, that is exactly what they did. Led by Theodore Koskoff, a brilliant and dedicated lawyer, the NBTA was founded.

Accredited by the American Bar Association, the National Board of Trial Advocacy maintains rigorous standards for the certification of civil, criminal and family law trial advocates.

To be certified by the NBTA, an applicant must meet the following standards:

Good Standing: Applicants must be a member of the bar in good standing. All applicants submit a comprehensive history of professional conduct and disclose and disciplinary action, past or pending. Disclosures of misconduct are reviewed and ruled on by three members of the Board of Directors who serve as the Standards Committee, to determine the severity and implication thereof in granting the attorney board certification.
Concentration in the Specialty of Trial Advocacy: A minimum of 30% concentration in the field in which the attorney seeks certification for at least the three years immediately preceding application.
Writing Sample: Submission of a writing sample in the form of a trial brief, prepared by the applicant, and submitted to a court of law within the three years immediately preceding application for certification.
Continuing Legal Education: Participation in at least 45 hours of continuing legal education in the three years immediately preceding application. The educational seminars must pertain to trial advocacy in the field in which the attorney seeks certification.
Judicial and Attorney Peer Review: Provision of three judges and three attorneys familiar with the applicant's courtroom abilities.
Trials: Lead counsel in a number of trials to verdict or judgement and a sampling of other trial and courtroom skills that are documented in checklist form.
Lead Counsel in Contested Matters: In addition to the trials, all applicants must document lead counsel in 40 contested matters involving the taking of evidence, such as hearings, motions or depositions.
Examination: Applicants must successfully pass the NBTA examination which is an all essay, trail techniques, evidence and ethics exam lasting six hours. The exam is written and graded by trial lawyers and law professors. The exam process is overseen by the NBTA Examination Committee and Board of Examiners.

As of January 2004, there are 27 Philadelphia attorneys who have been Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as civil trial advocates .