How to File for Pro Hac Vice Admission in Louisiana Federal Court
A resource for out-of-state litigation teams, corporate counsel, and the local attorneys who sponsor them.
If your firm is taking on a matter in a Louisiana federal court and your trial team is licensed elsewhere, lead counsel can’t simply enter an appearance and start filing. Federal districts are admitted separately, so a visiting attorney has to be admitted pro hac vice — “for this occasion” — before practicing in that specific district.
It’s a routine step, but it isn’t automatic, and the requirements aren’t identical across the state. Louisiana has three federal districts, each with its own local rules: the Eastern District (EDLA) in New Orleans, the Middle District (MDLA) in Baton Rouge, and the Western District (WDLA), which covers Lafayette, Shreveport, and Lake Charles. The fees, the certificate requirements, and the filing mechanics differ enough that a template pulled from another state’s practice will sometimes get rejected. The most common reasons for a delay are an out-of-date certificate of good standing or a motion filed by someone who isn’t yet admitted.
This is a practical walkthrough of how the process works and where the districts diverge.
You Need Local Counsel
The first thing to understand is that you can’t sponsor yourself. To be admitted pro hac vice in any Louisiana federal district, you have to associate with an attorney who is an active member in good standing of that district’s bar, and that attorney serves as your local counsel.
This isn’t a formality. Under the local rules, local counsel is responsible to the court at all stages of the proceedings — not just a mailing address for notices. A visiting attorney admitted pro hac vice may participate in the case in every respect, but every document filed with the court also has to be signed by the associated local counsel. If lead counsel becomes unavailable, local counsel is expected to be able to step in and handle the matter.
Filing Fees and Requirements by District
The process follows the same general shape in all three districts, but the fee and the certificate requirements vary. Here are the baseline differences.
| District | Filing fee | Certificate of good standing | How it’s filed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern (EDLA) — New Orleans | $100 per attorney, per case | Official certificate from your home jurisdiction | Electronically via CM/ECF by local counsel |
| Middle (MDLA) — Baton Rouge | $100 per attorney, per case | Official certificate from your home jurisdiction | Electronically via CM/ECF by local counsel |
| Western (WDLA) — Lafayette / Shreveport / Lake Charles | $105 per attorney, per case | Must be dated within the last 6 months (LR 83.2.6) | Local counsel files the motion; applicant requests e-filing via PACER |
Fees are paid through the federal Pay.gov gateway during filing. Confirm the current amounts and any local form requirements against each court’s website before you file, since fee orders and local rules are updated periodically.
How to Secure Admission, Step by Step
1. Get your certificate of good standing. Each visiting attorney needs an official certificate from the highest court of their home state, or from a federal court where they’re admitted. Order it early. If your home jurisdiction mails physical certificates and you’re filing in the Western District, you have a six-month window to work within, so request it as soon as you’re engaged.
2. Prepare an individual motion and proposed order. Each attorney needs a separate application — you can’t cover a multi-attorney team with one motion. Local counsel files the motion (ex parte or by consent). The applicant states under oath whether any disciplinary proceedings or criminal charges have been brought against them and, if so, gives full information about them and the outcome.
3. File electronically and pay the fee. Local counsel uploads the motion, the certificate of good standing, and the proposed order to the case docket through CM/ECF, and pays the per-attorney fee through Pay.gov.
4. Activate your e-filing access. Once the court grants the motion, the visiting attorney logs into their own PACER account and requests e-filing privileges for the case. The clerk’s office verifies the signed order and activates filing access.
The “Frequent Appearance” Limit
Pro hac vice admission is meant to be occasional. It exists so an out-of-state attorney can handle a particular case, not as a standing substitute for admission to the Louisiana bar.
If court records show an attorney appearing on Louisiana dockets repeatedly, a judge can conclude that the attorney is effectively practicing in the state on a regular basis. At that point the court has discretion to deny further pro hac vice motions, which would leave the out-of-state firm dependent on local counsel to carry the litigation. Attorneys who expect to appear in Louisiana frequently are usually better served by seeking full admission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a visiting attorney sign federal pleadings before the motion is granted?
No. Until the court grants the pro hac vice motion, filings have to be signed and submitted by admitted local counsel. Filing under an attorney who hasn’t been admitted yet can lead to the document being rejected or struck.
Does pro hac vice admission exempt me from Louisiana’s professional-conduct rules?
No. Louisiana’s federal districts have adopted the Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct, and an attorney admitted pro hac vice is subject to the disciplinary authority of the court in which they appear. Admission for a federal matter doesn’t put your conduct outside the reach of those rules. (Note that admission to practice in Louisiana state court is a separate process handled through the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, with its own application and fee.)
What happens if local counsel doesn’t sign a filing?
Every document filed with the court requires local counsel’s signature. A filing missing that signature doesn’t comply with the local rules and can be struck from the record.
This article is general information, not legal advice. How these rules apply depends on the district and the specifics of your matter, and local rules can change — confirm current requirements with the relevant court.
Need Local Counsel in Louisiana?
Coordinating admission for an out-of-state team is one of the first things that has to go right when a case lands in a Louisiana federal court, and a missed certificate or a misfiled motion can cost you days at the worst possible moment.
Bloom Legal sponsors pro hac vice admission and serves as local counsel for out-of-state trial teams, corporate counsel, and national firms across all three Louisiana federal districts. We handle the filing, anchor the case locally, and keep your team’s appearance on schedule.
Contact our New Orleans office to discuss serving as local counsel on your matter.
