We are proud to share some genuinely meaningful firm news. Attorney Avram “Avi” Berk of Peterson, Berk & Cross, S.C., has recently been recertified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) as both a Certified Civil Trial Specialist and a Certified Civil Pretrial Practice Specialist. That is a dual certification, and it is not handed out lightly. For the clients we serve throughout Green Bay and across northeastern Wisconsin, this recertification carries real meaning.
What Is the National Board of Trial Advocacy?
Founded in 1977, the NBTA is a non-profit organization accredited by the American Bar Association as a board-certifying agency for attorneys. The organization was built around a straightforward idea: that both the legal profession and the clients it serves benefit when there are objective, verifiable standards that distinguish attorneys who have demonstrated genuine trial ability from those who simply hold a law license.
As the NBTA puts it, attorneys must have “extensive experience in their specialty and meet rigorous objective quality standards.” This reflects a process that the U.S. Supreme Court itself has acknowledged as “highly-structured” and “arduous.”
Recertification Is Not the Same as Getting Certified the First Time
Certification by the NBTA the first time is already a significant accomplishment. Recertification is a separate process, and it is not automatic.
Recertification requires demonstrating continued substantial trial experience, submitting references from judges and fellow attorneys, showing proof of good standing in the profession, and documenting ongoing continuing legal education in the specialty area. Annual reporting requirements run throughout the entire certification period as well.
Recertification is proof that an attorney has not just maintained their credentials on paper. It confirms they have remained actively engaged in trial work, continued to grow professionally, and continued to meet the same high standards that earned the certification in the first place. For Avi, earning this recertification reflects decades of consistent, high-level civil trial practice in Wisconsin courts.
What Dual Certification Means for Clients
Avi holds two separate NBTA certifications, and they cover different but connected areas of civil law practice.
Civil Trial Law certification focuses on the actual trial process, including preparing and arguing cases before judges and juries. Civil Pretrial Practice certification covers the preparatory work that happens before a case ever reaches trial, including discovery, depositions, summary judgment motions, pretrial hearings, and alternative dispute resolution. Together, they reflect command of the full arc of civil litigation, from the first filing through a courtroom verdict if that is where a case needs to go.
For someone injured in a car accident on I-43, hurt in a slip and fall in downtown Green Bay, or dealing with a serious workplace injury in the Fox Valley, this matters. Cases that look straightforward at the outset can become complicated quickly. Insurance companies bring experienced legal teams to the table. Having an attorney who is board-certified in both trial and pretrial practice means your case is in the hands of someone who has demonstrated skill at every stage of the litigation process, not just one part of it.
About Attorney Avran D. Berk
Avi Berk has been a fixture of personal injury and other civil law matters in northeastern Wisconsin for decades. He joined Peterson, Berk & Cross, S.C., in 1989, and his principal focus has long been the personal injury practice at the firm’s Green Bay office. Over the course of his career, he has handled a broad range of civil, criminal, and business cases, and has held the highest possible rating from Martindale-Hubbell for more than 20 years. He has also been elected to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocacy (ABOTA) and as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, two additional distinctions that reflect serious peer recognition. He has served on the Wisconsin Association for Justice Board of Directors representing his Brown County district, and has lectured on personal injury and civil trial topics to attorneys throughout Wisconsin.
Why This Kind of Credential Matters When You Are Choosing an Attorney
Board certification is not a guarantee of any particular outcome. No credential is. But it does tell you something concrete about an attorney’s documented experience and commitment. The NBTA process requires proof of substantial trial involvement, judicial and peer references, a written examination, and ongoing professional development. It is an independent, ABA-accredited evaluation of whether an attorney meets objective standards in their practice area.
When you are hurt and trying to figure out who should represent you, that kind of independent verification matters. Navigating personal injury claims requires someone who knows litigation from the ground up. Avi’s dual NBTA certification, now renewed, reflects exactly that kind of documented, verified experience.
Peterson, Berk & Cross Is Proud of This Achievement
We do not take this kind of recognition for granted. Our firm has built its reputation in Green Bay, Appleton, and throughout Wisconsin on the quality of our attorneys and the results we pursue for our clients. Avi’s recertification reflects the standard we hold ourselves to.
The NBTA is an independent, ABA-accredited organization, and its standards are applied consistently on a national scale, not just in Wisconsin. When an attorney in Wisconsin holds NBTA certification, it means they have met those national standards.
If you have questions about a civil law matter in Wisconsin, contact the law firm of Peterson, Berk & Cross, S.C. Learn more about Avi Berk’s background and practice on our website.
Congratulations, Avi. This one is well-earned.