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ATTORNEY FAQs

  • I paid the readmission fee. Why can't I e-file?

    If you did not pay the readmission fee within 60 days after your renewal date, your e-filing privileges will have been locked out.  Once you pay the fee, the system will update your e-filing status that night, and you will be able to e-file the next day.  Please DO NOT wait until you have a deadline to pay the readmission fee.

  • What should we do when an attorney leaves the firm?

    Contact information changes must be made via www.pacer.uscourts.gov.  PACER will electronically transmit the updates to all selected NextGen CM/ECF courts.

    Go to www.pacer.uscourts.gov:

    1. Log in to Manage My Account.
    2. Click the Maintenance tab.
    3. Click Update Address Information.
    4. Apply Updates to Selected Courts (Select All Applicable Courts).
    5. Follow prompts to complete the request.

    You will then need to wait for the court to accept your updated information before the changes are activated.

  • How do I get a login and password to electronically file in CM/ECF?

    Only attorneys admitted to practice in the Western District of Louisiana or appearing provisionally (such as an attorney appearing pro hac vice, or representing the United States) will be authorized to electronically file documents in this court.  For e-filing access, attorneys must submit a request via PACER.

    Go to www.pacer.uscourts.gov:

    1. Log in to Manage My Account.
    2. Click the Maintenance tab.
    3. Click Attorney Admissions/E-File Registration.
    4. Select District Court.
    5. Select Western District of Louisiana.
    6. Click the E-File Registration Only button.
    7. Follow prompts to complete all sections of E-File Registration.

    You will then need to wait for the court to process the request before e-filing privileges are activated.  You will receive an automated email once your request has been processed.

    To learn more about submitting a new e-file request, review the electronic learning module for the Manage My Account Maintenance tab in PACER.

  • I am an attorney and my address or contact information has changed. How do I update this information with the Court?

    Since this Court has upgraded to NextGen CM/ECF, attorneys must submit address changes through www.pacer.uscourts.gov.  Please follow the instructions below to update your address:

    Go to www.pacer.uscourts.gov:

    1. Log in to Manage My Account.
    2. Click the Maintenance tab.
    3. Click Update Address Information.
    4. Apply Updates to Selected Courts (Select All Applicable Courts).
    5. Follow prompts to complete the request.

    Once the changes have been applied to the Western District of Louisiana, the court will need to process the request before the changes are updated in CM/ECF.

  • How do I get admitted to practice in the Western District of Louisiana?

    Becoming admitted to practice in the Western District of Louisiana is now available online.

    Go to www.pacer.uscourts.gov:

    1. Log in to Manage My Account.
    2. Click the Maintenance tab.
    3. Click Update Attorney Admissions/E-File Registration.
    4. Select District Court.
    5. Select Western District of Louisiana.
    6. Click Attorney Admission and E-File.
    7. Complete all sections of Attorney Admission.  Required information is indicated by the red * asterisks.
    8. Upload required documents: 1) Endorsement Certificate* and 2) Certificate of Good Standing** from Louisiana Supreme Court or the Louisiana Bar Association.
    9. Select Payment Information.
    10. Acknowledge, read, and agree to terms, conditions, and local requirements.
    11. Submit.

    After the Court approves the petition for admission, the attorney will receive an email to submit payment.  After payment is processed, the Court will finalize the petition and mail the attorney a Certificate of Admission.

    *Endoresment Certificate must be completed by an attorney who is already admitted to practice, in "Active" status, and in good standing with the Western District of Louisiana.
    **Certificate of Good Standing must be of recent date (within last six months).

  • Who may become a member of the bar of the district court?

    Any member in good standing of the bar of the Supreme Court of Louisiana is eligible for admission to the bar of this court.  Please review LR83.2.2 Eligibility.

  • May I take the oath of admissions for the bar of the U. S. District Court before an out-of-state federal judge?

    No, the Western District of Louisiana has not authorized this practice as it is not necessary. No appearance is necessary or required for admission to this court.

  • Is there an admission fee to become a member of the district court’s bar?

    Yes, there is a fee for admission to this court. The current fee can be located here on our Fees and Online Payments web page.

  • How can I obtain a duplicate Attorney Admission Certificate or Certificate of Good Standing from the court?

    A duplicate Certificate of Admission or Certificate of Good Standing may be obtained by completing the online request via pay.gov. The current fee can be located here on our Fees and Oline Payments web page.

  • Does the court charge an annual attorney registration fee?

    Yes. Effective November 1, 2020, the court began charging a triennial fee of $45.00.  This fee is applicable to all admitted attorneys (excluding government, public defenders, and pro hac vice) who have been admitted for at least three years.  The renewal fee will be charged every three years from the date of admission or three years after the last renewal payment.

    To Pay the $45.00 Attorney Readmission Fee:

    1. Click here to login to the court's CM/ECF system - https://ecf.lawd.uscourts.gov/ for the Western District of Louisiana.
    2. Once logged in, select the Civil menu.
    3. Select the Attorney Readmission event under the Attorney Readmission Fee Payment heading.
    4. Follow the prompts, including the online payment screen, until the event is complete and submitted.  Please do not use the back button after you have submitted the payment information screen as this may result in double payment.  This process will redirect you pay.gov then back to CM/ECF.  Please follow all prompts to the Notice of Electronic Filing screen.
  • Do I need to place my bar roll number on pleadings that are filed with the court?

    All correspondence and pleadings sent to the court must contain the bar roll number. This number is to be placed by your name in the signature block.

  • How do I get my name placed on the docket sheet as an attorney of record?

    The names of attorneys listed on an initial pleading filed on behalf of a party are placed on the docket sheet. Pursuant to LR83.2.12, where counsel has appeared for any party, other counsel my appear for the same party only:

    1. Upon motion of counsel of record for that party, or motion consented to by him/her;
    2. Upon motion, after counsel for the party has been permitted to withdraw or has died, or is incapacitated, or cannot be found; or
    3. Upon motion of a party after notice to counsel of record and a hearing thereon.
  • How do I get my name removed from the docket sheet as an attorney of record?

    Pursuant to LR 83.2.11, the original counsel of record shall be held to represent the party for whom he or she appears unless the court permits him or her to withdraw from the case. He or she may obtain permission only upon joint motion to substitute counsel or upon a written motion served on opposing counsel and the client before the court acts. If other counsel is not thereby substituted, the motion to withdraw shall contain the present address of the client and the client’s telephone number if the client can be reached by telephone. The motion shall be accompanied by a certificate of service, including a statement that the client has been notified of all deadlines and pending court appearances, on both the client by certified mail and opposing counsel, or an affidavit stating why service has not been made.