Curtis R. Joseph, Jr. Installed as 86th President of the Louisiana State Bar Association
Curtis R. Joseph, Jr., a partner in the Shreveport law firm of Blanchard, Walker, O’Quin & Roberts, APLC, was installed June 4 as the 86th president of the Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) during a ceremony at the LSBA’s Annual Meeting in Sandestin, Fla. Administering his oath of office was Hon. Carl E. Stewart of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Joseph has served in several leadership roles throughout his professional career, including as LSBA president-elect, a member of the LSBA’s Board of Governors and House of Delegates, and as president of the Shreveport Bar Association. Now, for his one-year term as president, he plans to focus on expanding engagement within the profession, increasing participation among lawyers across all regions of the state and continuing the Bar’s commitment to serving both its members and the public.
“One of the primary things I’d like to accomplish is get more North Louisiana lawyers involved in the state bar. I’ve received so many calls, text messages, emails and the like from lawyers who are now paying attention to our Bar,” Joseph said. “I want to be the Bar emissary. I want people to walk away from all things LSBA feeling good. I want to use that platform to get as many people engaged as possible.”
Joseph said he intends to continue supporting the LSBA’s Access to Justice initiatives while also addressing broader challenges facing the legal profession, including lawyer engagement, the evolving role of technology in practice and legal deserts in Louisiana.
“Approximately 90% of Louisiana lawyers practice south of I-10, leaving large portions of our state with fewer legal resources,” he said. “We currently have a robust Access to Justice program and I intend to support those efforts however possible because access to competent legal representation remains critically important.”
Joseph earned a bachelor of arts degree in mass communications in 1993 and his Juris Doctor degree in 1996 from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.
His practice combines both defense and plaintiff-oriented litigation and reflects a career path shaped by diverse experiences, including plaintiff personal injury, civil defense and solo practice. Before returning to the practice of law full time, Joseph spent time teaching middle school language arts, social studies and religion in New Orleans while pursuing music professionally as a jazz and blues drummer.
Joseph served on the LSBA Board of Governors from 2021-24, representing the Eighth Board District, and previously served in the LSBA House of Delegates. He is a former president of the Shreveport Bar Association and has served on numerous community and civic boards and organizations throughout North Louisiana.
Throughout his career, Joseph has remained committed to service.
“Those who know me will attest that my life has been one devoted to service,” he said. “I firmly believe that our lives are made useful by serving others.”
Joseph and his wife, Barbara, reside in Shreveport and have two children, Caleb and Ivy.