NOTICE: Attorney Fee Review Board Sets Hourly Rates Through 2027
The Attorney Fee Review Board (AFRB) is charged with establishing hourly rates for legal fees for which the State may be liable pursuant to La. R.S. 13:5108.3. The AFRB met for its 2025 fall meeting on October 6, 2025.  Click here to read the AFRB Notice of rates.

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Committee Preferences: Get Involved in Your Bar!
Committee assignment requests are now being accepted for the 2026-27 Bar year. Response deadline is Friday, April 10.

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House of Delegates Jan. 24 Meeting Recap
The LSBA’s House of Delegates approved four resolutions and elected delegates to Committees at its Midyear Meeting on Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel.

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Louisiana Act 352 Overhauls Court Filings Starting Jan. 1, 2026
Act 352 changes how Louisiana lawyers file court papers starting Jan. 1, 2026. After that date, attorney filings must be made either in person using paper or electronically through a clerk-approved e-filing system. For e-filings, a document is considered filed on the date and time shown on the system’s acceptance confirmation.  Approved e-filing systems include the parish courts’ Louisiana Clerks’ Remote Access Authority (LCRAA) portal and the independent filing systems of the five Courts of Appeal and the Louisiana Supreme Court.
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U.S. 5th Circuit Adopts Amendments and Local Rule Change
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has adopted amendments to its local rules, effective December 1, 2025, to align with recent changes to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.
The full text of the amended rules and related guidance is available on the Fifth Circuit’s website at www.ca5.uscourts.gov.  
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LSBA Names Old Republic as New Endorsed Malpractice Insurance Provider
Enhanced coverage and new benefits for Louisiana lawyers begin January 2026.
After a year-long review process, the LSBA has selected Old Republic Lawyers Specialty Insurance (ORLSI) as the Association’s endorsed provider of lawyer’s malpractice insurance, partnering with Gilsbar to manage and administer the program. The change marks a major enhancement to the LSBA Insurance Program, which now offers more flexible pricing, additional premium credits, and stronger risk management benefits designed to reward careful, claims-free practice.

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LSBA 50-, 60-, 70-Year Members Recognized at Midyear Meeting
LSBA members who have reached half a century and beyond in their professional careers were honored Jan. 23 during the Midyear Meeting. Review the list of honorees at: http://www.lsba.org/midyearmeeting/Photos.aspx.

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Interested in an Appointed LSBA HOD Leadership Position?
Several LSBA House of Delegates seats received no qualifiers by the Oct. 13, 2025, qualifying deadline. These positions will be filled by presidential appointment. 

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2026-27 LSBA Dues and LADB Assessment Payment Cycle to Begin in May
The purpose of the Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) is set forth in Art. III § 1 of its Articles of Incorporation. The expenditure of funds by the LSBA is limited as set forth in the LSBA’s Articles and Bylaws; Supreme Court Rule XVIII § 6; Keller v. State Bar of California, 496U.S. 1 (1990); McDonald v. Longley, 4 F.4th 229 (5th Cir. 2021); and Boudreaux v. Louisiana State Bar Ass’n, 86 F.4th 620 (5th Cir. 2023).
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Louisiana Supreme Court Amends Plan of Legal Specialization
The Louisiana Supreme Court has issued an order amending Sections 8.4, 9.2, and 10 of the Louisiana State Bar Association Plan of Legal Specialization. 


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LA Board of Legal Specialization Increased its Annual Dues Effective Jan. 1, 2026
The Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization (“LBLS”) voted to amend Rule 6.5(a) of its Rules and Regulations to increase annual dues for all board certified specialists from $175.00 to $200.00, effective January 1, 2026. This is the first time that LBLS annual dues have been increased since 1993. LBLS also amended Rule 6.6(d) to add a penalty of $50.00 for failure to pay the recertification fee by the due date. For more information or questions about these increases please contact LBLS Specialization Director, Mary Ann Wegmann, at maryann.wegmann@lsba.org.

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Application Deadline May 29 for Leadership LSBA 2026–27 Class
LSBA President-Elect Curtis R. Joseph, Jr. is currently seeking applications from young lawyers for the Leadership LSBA 2026–27 Class. The deadline to apply is May 29, 2026. To learn more about the program, go to: www.lsba.org/goto/leadershiplsba

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House Resolution Deadline is May 6 for Annual Meeting
The deadline for submitting resolutions for the next LSBA House of Delegates meeting is Wednesday, May 6 The House will meet on Thursday, June 4, in conjunction with the LSBA’s Annual Meeting in Destin, Fla.

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Nominations Open for 2026 Catherine D. Kimball Award
The nomination deadline is Friday, April 3, for the Louisiana State Bar Association’s 2026 Catherine D. Kimball Award for Advancement of the Administration of Justice.

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Registration Open and Sponsor Opportunities Available for 2026 Conclave on Diversity in the Legal Profession
The 18th Annual Conclave on Diversity in the Legal Profession, with the theme Our Diversity, Our Strength, is scheduled for August 7, 2026, at the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans, 2 Canal Street. The deadline for sponsorship opportunities is April 24, 2026. Learn more about the event, register, or access sponsorship information at www.lsba.org/goto/conclave.

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Louisiana Supreme Court Revises MCLE Age-Based Exemption Effective Jan. 1, 2026
The Louisiana Supreme Court has amended Rule XXX of the Rules for Continuing Legal Education, modifying the long-standing age-based exemption for attorneys. The change, effective January 1, 2026, reflects the reality that many attorneys are practicing well past traditional retirement age, while also acknowledging the corresponding unique challenges faced by those attorneys. 
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LBLS Accepting Applications for Business Bankruptcy Law and Consumer Bankruptcy Law Certification through Sept. 30
The Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization (LBLS) is accepting applications for board certification in business bankruptcy law and consumer bankruptcy law through Sept. 30, 2026. 
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Attorneys Apply for Recertification as Legal Specialists

Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, notice is hereby given that the following attorneys have applied for recertification as legal specialists for the period January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2030. Any person wishing to comment upon the qualifications of any applicant should submit his or her comments to the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, 601 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130 or maryann.wegmann@lsba.org, no later than Friday, December 19, 2025.

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Attorneys Apply for Certification as Legal Specialists

Pursuant to the Rules and Regulations of the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, notice is hereby given that the following attorneys have applied for certification as a legal specialist. Any person wishing to comment upon the qualifications of any applicant should submit his/her comments to the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, 601 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130, c/o Mary Ann Wegmann, Specialization Director, no later than December 19, 2025.

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Online Application Portal Open for 2026 Suit Up Program
Do You Know Any High School Students Interested in the Legal Profession? Applications are now being accepted for the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Suit Up for the Future High School Summer Legal Institute and Intern Program, scheduled for June 8–26, 2026. The application deadline is May 4, 2026, for high school juniors, seniors, and students entering their first year of college in Fall 2026. Students may access the online application portal at www.lsba.org/goto/suitup.

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Job Shadowing Opportunities Available for 2026 Suit Up for the Future Program
Legal professionals are being asked to participate in job shadowing opportunities. During the program’s second week (June 15–19, 2026), students will be provided with an opportunity to job shadow attorneys at firms, courts, and agencies. This is an opportunity for students to see what attorneys do daily and to spend one-on-one time with them in the workplace. Attorneys in the greater New Orleans area who are interested in hosting one or more students should contact the LSBA Member Outreach and Diversity team at diversity@lsba.org.

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Mandatory Bar Challenge
A member of the Louisiana State Bar Association filed suit against the LSBA, the Louisiana Supreme Court and the Justices of the Court on August 1, 2019, challenging mandatory bar membership on First and Fourteenth amendment grounds.

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