Lawyers in Louisiana

Finding a lawyer in Louisiana

Louisiana is the one state whose private law grows out of the civil-law tradition rather than English common law, so much of its everyday legal vocabulary is different: estates are "successions," counties are "parishes," and property and family rules follow the Louisiana Civil Code. That makes local experience matter more here than almost anywhere else. Look for a lawyer who is licensed and practices in Louisiana.

Most firms are concentrated in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, with active legal communities in Lafayette, Shreveport, Lake Charles and Monroe. This directory lists Louisiana law firms by city and by practice area so you can find a firm that works in your parish's district court and in your kind of case.

When you need a lawyer (and when you may not)

Talk to a Louisiana attorney early if you have been arrested or charged, if you were hurt in a car wreck, at work or on someone else's property, if you are being sued, or if a divorce involves children or community property. Insurance disputes after hurricanes and storms are a distinctive Louisiana problem where a lawyer's help is often needed. Time limits in Louisiana, called prescription, can be much shorter than in other states, so waiting is risky.

You may not need a lawyer for a small money dispute, which city and parish courts can handle in simplified proceedings, or for a routine traffic ticket or basic document. Many Louisiana lawyers offer a free or low-cost first consultation, and that conversation is the simplest way to learn whether you need representation.

Common practice areas in Louisiana

• Car Accident and Personal Injury — collision claims, offshore and maritime injuries, industrial accidents and other negligence cases.
• Family & Divorce — divorce, custody, child support and division of community property under the Civil Code.
• Criminal Defense — felonies and misdemeanors in district, city and parish courts.
• DUI & DWI — Louisiana uses the term DWI; a charge brings a criminal case plus a license matter with the Office of Motor Vehicles.
• Estate Planning & Probate — wills, trusts and successions, Louisiana's term for estate administration, with forced-heirship rules found nowhere else in the country.
• Real Estate — purchases, sales and title work, where Louisiana notaries and attorneys play a larger role than in many states.
• Workers' Compensation — on-the-job injury claims through the Office of Workers' Compensation Administration.
• Insurance and Business — property-damage claims, contract disputes and business formation.
• Immigration, Bankruptcy and Social Security Disability — federal matters with their own courts and appeals.

How to check a lawyer's license in Louisiana

Every lawyer practicing in Louisiana must be a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, a mandatory bar operating under the Supreme Court of Louisiana. The Bar's online membership directory shows whether an attorney is eligible to practice, the year of admission and any public discipline.

Confirm the status is active and eligible, that the name and office match the person you are dealing with, and that there is no disciplinary record you have not discussed. Complaints about a lawyer's conduct are investigated by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel and decided through the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board and the Supreme Court.

How to choose a law firm

Pick a firm that regularly handles your kind of case in your parish. A lawyer who is in your district court every week on family or injury matters knows the local judges and customs; one who works mostly in another part of the state may not. Ask how many cases like yours the firm has handled recently and who will be doing the work.

Discuss fees before you sign. Injury and workers' compensation cases are usually taken on contingency, paid from any recovery. Divorce, criminal, succession and business matters are generally hourly or flat-fee, often with a retainer. Get the fee agreement in writing, ask what costs are billed separately, and find out who your day-to-day contact is and how the firm prefers to communicate.

Questions to ask at the first consultation

• How many cases like mine have you handled in this parish recently?
• Who will work on my case day to day?
• What are the realistic outcomes, and what would each one take?
• How do you charge, and which costs are separate from your fee?
• What prescription deadline applies to my situation?
• How often will you update me?
• Are you an active, eligible member of the Louisiana State Bar Association?

Free and low-cost legal help

Louisiana's civil legal aid providers, including Southeast Louisiana Legal Services in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge region and Acadiana Legal Service Corporation across the rest of the state, help residents with limited income in housing, family, benefits, disaster-recovery and consumer matters. The Louisiana State Bar Association coordinates pro bono efforts, and local bars in New Orleans and Baton Rouge run lawyer referral services. Law schools in New Orleans and Baton Rouge operate clinics where supervised students represent clients. Anyone charged with a crime who cannot afford a lawyer has the right to a public defender.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different — talk to a licensed Louisiana attorney about your situation.