The Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA) has developed the first board-certification program for paralegals specializing in trucking litigation, establishing a new professional benchmark in this legal field. This credential was recently earned by two paralegals at the law firm Craig, Kelley & Faultless, Carissa Swalls and Holly Hinds, who attended the ATAA Symposium in Austin, Texas, from September 18 to 20, 2025, where they sat for the certification examination. As of October 16, 2025, both professionals are officially Board-Certified by the ATAA in Trucking Litigation, representing the inaugural class of paralegals to achieve this distinction.
This certification serves as formal proof of a paralegal's extensive experience and comprehensive knowledge of truck accident law, providing tangible evidence of their specialized expertise to clients and the legal community. The rigorous certification process requires candidates to document substantial hands-on experience handling truck accident cases and to pass a comprehensive examination covering the detailed information an advanced paralegal in this specialized field should master. The establishment of this certification program matters because it creates standardized professional criteria for paralegals working in trucking litigation, an area of law that involves complex regulations, multiple liable parties, and significant potential damages.
Craig, Kelley & Faultless has distinguished itself as one of the few firms in the country with both board-certified truck accident attorneys and now board-certified paralegals, reflecting its deep commitment to specialized legal representation in this niche practice area. The firm actively works to provide its legal team with opportunities for continuing education, systematically helping paralegals and staff build upon their expertise in truck accident law through structured professional development. This commitment aligns directly with its organizational mission to offer the best possible representation to victims of semi-truck, heavy truck, bus, and other commercial motor vehicle accidents, recognizing that specialized knowledge directly impacts case outcomes and client recovery.
The implications of this certification program extend beyond individual professional achievement to potentially influence industry standards and client expectations. By establishing formal recognition for paralegal specialization in trucking litigation, the ATAA has created a framework that may encourage other legal professionals to pursue similar credentials, ultimately raising the overall quality of representation available to accident victims. This development is particularly important given the complexity of truck accident cases, which often involve federal regulations, corporate defendants, insurance complexities, and serious injuries requiring sophisticated legal strategies. The certification program represents a significant step toward professionalizing this legal specialty and providing clients with clearer indicators of attorney and paralegal qualifications when selecting legal representation for these challenging cases.
