The Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization is looking for interested bar members who would be willing to serve on the 2024-2025 Labor Law Advisory Commission. Kindly submit your CV no later than May 17, 2024. The term is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2024, and each member shall serve for the term of appointment set by the Board, up to three (3) years. Members may then be eligible to serve a second three (3) year term. See April 11, 2024 letter from LBLS Chair Richard K. Leefe for more information. The duties of members of the Advisory Commission are set forth in LBLS Rule 4. Please contact Specialization Director Mary Ann Wegmann at maryann.wegmann@lsba.org, or 504-619-0128, for more information.

The LBLS is accepting applications for board certification in seven (7) specializations — appellate practice, employment law, estate planning and administration, family law, health law, labor law, and tax law -- from November 1, 2023 through March 15, 2024. The deadline to submit applications was extended from February 29, 2024 to Friday, March 15, 2024. The LBLS is accepting applications for business bankruptcy law and consumer bankruptcy law board certification from January 1, 2024 through September 30, 2024.

In accordance with the requirements of the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization (LBLS), as set forth in the individual Specialty Standards for each field of legal specialization, board certified attorneys in a specific field of law had to meet a minimum CLE requirement for the calendar year ending December 31, 2023.

2024 Annual Dues Notices have been mailed to all qualified Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization (LBLS) specialists.  The completed original dues notice together with proof of professional liability insurance and the appropriate fee should be mailed or delivered to the LBLS office located at 601 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130, no later than March 8, 2024 to avoid a penalty assessment.

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Ann Wegmann, Specialization Director, Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, at (504)619-0128, or email maryann.wegmann@lsba.org.

Dear Board Certified Specialists and 2023 Applicants,

The Supreme Court of Louisiana amended the Rules for Continuing Legal Education, Supreme Court Rule XXX, Rule 3(d), effective June 26, 2023. Order of June 26, 2023. For the 2023 compliance period ending December 31, 2023, the Supreme Court of Louisiana has set the limitation for “computer-based credit” at four (4) hours annually (as defined in amended Rule 3(d) of Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XXX. Rule XXX - Supreme Court Rules - Louisiana  Supreme Court. “Computer-based credit” includes interactive live webcasts, webinars, and on-demand recordings. See the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (“MCLE”) website at https://www.lsba.org/MCLE/.

Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization (“LBLS”) Estate Planning and Administration specialists and Tax Law specialists may earn up to four (4) hours of approved specialization “computer-based credit” on or before December 31, 2023. The remaining fourteen (14) hours of their required 18 hours should be “in person attendance.” See Rule 3(d) of Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XXX. Rule XXX -  Supreme Court Rules - Louisiana Supreme Court. LBLS Appellate Practice specialists, Employment Law specialists, Family Law specialists, and Health Law specialists may earn up to four (4) hours of approved specialization “computer-based credit” on or before December 31, 2023. The remaining eleven (11) hours of their required 15 hours should be “in person attendance.” LBLS Business Bankruptcy Law specialists and Consumer Bankruptcy Law specialists must satisfy the continuing legal education requirements of the American Board of Certification (“ABC”).

2023 applicants for Estate Planning and Administration and Tax Law specializations may earn up to four (4) hours of approved specialization “computer-based credit” on or before December 31, 2023. The remaining fourteen (14) hours of their required 18 hours should be “in person attendance.” Applicants for Appellate Practice, Employment Law, Family Law, Health Law and Labor Law specializations may earn up to four (4) hours of approved specialization “computer-based credit” on or before December 31, 2023. The remaining eleven (11) hours of their required 15 hours should be “in person attendance.”

If you have any questions, please contact our Specialization Director, Mary Ann Wegmann, at (504) 619- 0128, 1-800-421-5722, or maryann.wegmann@lsba.org

Sincerely Yours,
Richard K. Leefe, Chair
Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization

The LSBA House of Delegates (“HOD”) at their June 8, 2023 annual meeting unanimously approved an amendment to the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization (“LBLS”) Appellate Practice Standards to reduce the number of appellate matters required of applicants serving as lead counsel, or had substantial responsibility in, from 25 to 20 or more appellate matters at the time of application. The Board of Governors ratified the HOD vote unanimously on June 9, 2023. https://www.lsba.org/documents/HOD/23AMres1.pdf. Applicants who have served on the appellate bench for three (3) or more years in the five (5) years immediately preceding the date of application are exempted from this requirement. View the amended LBLS Appellate Practice Standards.

For more information or questions contact LBLS Specialization Director, Mary Ann Wegmann at maryann.wegmann@lsba.org.

The Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization (LBLS) has extended the deadline to accept applications for board certification in seven (7) specializations — appellate practice, employment law, estate planning and administration, family law, health law, labor law and tax law - until Friday, March 17, 2023. The LBLS will be accepting applications for business bankruptcy law and consumer bankruptcy law certification from January 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023.

LBLS was established in 1993 by the Louisiana Supreme Court to assist consumers in finding a lawyer who has demonstrated ability and experience in specialized fields of law. To become a board certified specialist, an attorney must be an active member in good standing with the Louisiana State Bar Association, have a minimum of five (5) years of full-time practice, demonstrate substantial experience in the specialty area and pass a written examination. The areas of law for which LBLS is offering board certification are appellate practice, business bankruptcy law, consumer bankruptcy law, employment law, estate planning and administration, family law, health law, labor law, and tax law. 

For more information and to receive an application packet, contact LBLS Specialization Director Mary Ann Wegmann, (504)619-0128, email maryann.wegmann@lsba.org.

2023 Annual Dues Notices have been mailed to all qualified Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization (LBLS) specialists.  The completed original dues notice together with proof of professional liability insurance and the appropriate fee should be mailed or delivered to the LBLS office located at 601 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130, no later than March 6, 2023 to avoid a penalty assessment.

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Ann Wegmann, Specialization Director, Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, at (504)619-0128, or email maryann.wegmann@lsba.org.

The Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization’s resolution to adopt revised Employment Law Standards and Employment Law Exam Topics was approved by the LSBA House of Delegates and the Board of Governors at the June 2021 meeting. The Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization plans to accept applications for Employment Law board certification beginning on November 1, 2021. Please see letter from LBLS Chair Bernadette R. Lee inviting qualified members of the bar to apply for Employment Law and Labor Law board certifications. LBLS Chair Lee also invites qualified members to apply to serve on the Employment Law and Labor Law Advisory Commissions. For more information or questions please contact LBLS Director, Mary Ann Wegmann at maryann.wegmann@lsba.org.

View Resolution   View Letter

The Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization’s resolution to adopt revised Labor Law Standards and Labor Law Exam Topics was approved by the LSBA House of Delegates and the Board of Governors at the June 2021 meeting. The Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization plans to accept applications for Labor Law board certification beginning on November 1, 2021. Please see letter from LBLS Chair Bernadette R. Lee inviting qualified members of the bar to apply for Employment Law and Labor Law board certifications. LBLS Chair Lee also invites qualified members to apply to serve on the Employment Law and Labor Law Advisory Commissions. For more information or questions please contact LBLS Director, Mary Ann Wegmann at maryann.wegmann@lsba.org.

View Resolution   View Letter

A “housekeeping” amendment to the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization Health Law Standards to incorporate the Health Law Topics and create one document was approved by the LSBA House of Delegates and the Board of Governors at the June 2021 meeting. For more information or questions contact LBLS Director, Mary Ann Wegmann, at maryann.wegmann@lsba.org.

View Health Law Standards

The Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization has extended the deadline a week to the close of business on Monday, April 26, 2021, to accept written comments on the revised LBLS Employment Law Standards and Employment Law Exam Topics, and the revised LBLS Labor Law Standards, Labor Law Exam Topics, and Labor Law Exam Specifications. Read more on the comment period and background of the process in a letter from LBLS Chair Robert E. Rowe.

View Letter

Dear Members,
The objective of the Louisiana State Bar Association Plan of Legal Specialization (“Plan”) is to promote the availability, accessibility and quality of the services of lawyers in particular fields of the law in order to better serve the public interest and improve public access to appropriate legal services and to advance the standards of the legal profession by encouraging specialized education in various fields of practice. There are currently ten approved specializations: Tax Law, Family Law, Business Bankruptcy Law, Consumer Bankruptcy Law, Labor Law, Employment Law, Estate Planning and Administration, Appellate Practice, Environmental Law and Health Law.

View Letter

LBLS has extended the deadline to accept applications for certification in five (5) specializations — appellate practice, estate planning and administration, family law, health law, and tax law -until Tuesday, March 30, 2021. The LBLS will be accepting applications for business bankruptcy law and consumer bankruptcy law certification from January 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021.

For more information, contact LBLS Specialization Director Mary Ann Wegmann, (504)619-0128, email maryann.wegmann@lsba.org.

LBLS has extended the deadline to pay 2021 LBLS Annual Dues without penalty to March 15, 2021.

The completed original dues notice, together with proof of professional liability insurance and the appropriate fee, should be mailed or delivered to the LBLS office, 601 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130, no later than March 15, 2021 to avoid a penalty assessment.

For more information, contact LBLS Specialization Director Mary Ann Wegmann, (504)619-0128, email maryann.wegmann@lsba.org.

The LBLS is accepting applications for certification in five (5) specializations — appellate practice, estate planning and administration, family law, health law, and tax law from November 1, 2020 through March 1, 2021. The LBLS will be accepting applications for business bankruptcy law and consumer bankruptcy law certification from January 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021.

In accordance with the requirements of the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization (LBLS), as set forth in the individual Specialty Standards for each field of legal specialization, board certified attorneys in a specific field of law must meet a minimum CLE requirement for the calendar year ending December 31, 2020. The requirement for each area of specialty is as follows:

• Appellate Practice – 15 hours of approved appellate practice
• Estate Planning and Administration – 18 hours of approved estate planning and administration
• Family Law – 15 hours of approved family law
• Health Law – 15 hours of approved health law
• Tax Law – 18 hours of approved tax law
• Bankruptcy Law – CLE is regulated by the American Board of Certification

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The Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization (LBLS) announced that the Family Law Standards and the Health Law Standards and Health Law Topics have been amended for 2021.

All amendments were approved by the Louisiana State Bar Association’s (LSBA) House of Delegates and Board of Governors at Jan. 23 meetings.

The LSBA Bankruptcy Section Members 50 and Under received a letter from the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization (“LBLS”) explaining the requirements to become a board certified Business Bankruptcy Law and/or Consumer Bankruptcy Law specialist. The next application period will run from January 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021. Qualified attorneys of any age may apply. Here are links to the requirements: Business Bankruptcy and Consumer Bankruptcy. Please contact Specialization Director Mary Ann Wegmann at 504-619-0128 or maryann.wegmann@lsba.org for more information.

View Letter

Dear Members,
The objective of the Louisiana State Bar Association Plan of Legal Specialization (“Plan”) is to promote the availability, accessibility and quality of the services of lawyers in particular fields of the law in order to better serve the public interest and improve public access to appropriate legal services and to advance the standards of the legal profession by encouraging specialized education in various fields of practice. There are currently ten approved specializations: Tax Law, Family Law, Business Bankruptcy Law, Consumer Bankruptcy Law, Labor Law, Employment Law, Estate Planning and Administration, Appellate Practice, Environmental Law and Health Law.

Dear Members:
The Louisiana Supreme Court created the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization to oversee existing areas of legal specialty and to develop new areas of legal specialty, as requested by fellow members of the bar. The Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization is charged with recommending specialty areas. The recommended specialty areas must then be approved by the Louisiana State Bar Association House of Delegates and the Louisiana Supreme Court.

The LBLS petitioned and received approval from the LSBA House of Delegates and the Louisiana Supreme Court to revise the LSBA Plan of Legal Specialization and the LBLS Rules and Regulations to provide for two (2) new certification designations, specifically, “inactive” and “senior”.

An amendment to the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization Appellate Practice Standards to reduce the annual appellate practice specialization CLE requirement from 18 hours to 15 hours was approved by the LSBA House of Delegates and the Board of Governors at the January 19, 2019 meeting. A copy of the amended LBLS Appellate Practice Standards was emailed to all appellate practice specialists.
For more information or questions contact LBLS Specialization Director, Mary Ann Wegmann at maryann.wegmann@lsba.org .

View the standards