bar admission options:

without bar examination
not available.

with bar examination
examination required for all applicants.

examination components:
1. academic: nine separate examination areas, including five sections on the louisiana civil code.
2. ethics: mpre scaled score of 80 is transferable from any jurisdiction.

examination dates:
february (deadline: november 1 of the preceding year).
july (deadline: february 1).

late application fees apply.

application/admission fees: $225.00

other state bar requirements:

1. minimum age: 18

2. u.s. citizen or resident alien.

3. graduate of an aba-accredited law school (accredited at the time of graduation).

4. must become a member of the louisiana state bar within 24 months of passing bar examination.

5. have demonstrated sound mind, good moral character and fitness to practice law.

6. required annual fees: $25.00 (initial licensing fee); $40.00 (0-3 years after admission); $100.00 (more than 3 years after admission); $145.00 yearly assessment fee.

regulation of in-house counsel:

louisiana bar admission rules do not address in-house counsel. however, when read in conjunction with the louisiana rules of professional conduct, rule 5.5., “unauthorized practice of law,” it appears that in-house counsel must become members of the louisiana state bar.

bar association status:

[x] mandatory (see required annual fees above)

[ ] voluntary

specialty certification:

the louisiana board of legal specialization administers a certification program and also has the authority to approve private certifying organizations (aba approval of certification programs is not recognized). the louisiana supreme court is currently studying the impact of certification, during which time it will not permit additional programs to be certified.

areas of specialization include:

business bankruptcy
consumer bankruptcy
estate planning and administration
family law
tax law

louisiana attorneys may advertise that they are either a "board certified specialist (specialty practice area)" or "certified by (named certification agency) as a (practice area) specialist."