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Membership Classes and Qualifications

The Southwest Louisiana Bar Association includes four classes of membership. The classes and qualifications for each class are:

Active Members are attorneys with membership in good standing in the Louisiana State Bar Association who reside in and/or maintain a law office in the parishes of Calcasieu, Cameron, Beauregard, Allen and Jefferson Davis.

Non-Resident Members are attorneys with membership in good standing in the Louisiana State Bar Association who cannot qualify as Active Members.

Emeritus Members are retired attorneys and retired judges of the state, federal and municipal courts, who are not practicing law and who reside in the parishes of Calcasieu, Cameron, Beauregard, Allen and Jefferson Davis.

Honorary Members are all active judges, including hearing officers, of the state and federal courts who reside in the parishes of Calcasieu, Cameron, Beauregard, Allen and Jefferson Davis and who, because of their judicial office, are prohibited from practicing law. The Executive Council or the active membership of this corporation may elect any member of the legal profession, irrespective of residence or of membership in the Louisiana State Bar Association, as an Honorary Member of this Corporation in tribute to the member’s meritorious service to the legal profession and to the public.

Non-Resident, Emeritus and Honorary Members have all the privileges of Active Members, except the privilege of voting and holding office.

Active and Non-Resident Members shall pay such annual dues and special assessments as determined by the Executive Council. Senior and Honorary Members shall pay no dues or assessments.

Applications for Membership

Applications for membership must be made in writing and must be accompanied by payment of the appropriate dues.

Download the Membership Registration form To read the form, you will need to download and install Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Complete the form and mail, together with your membership dues, to:

SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA BAR ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 191
LAKE CHARLES, LA. 70602-0191

Terms

The term “regular member in good standing” or “active member” means a lawyer who meets the eligibility requirements of an Active Member, who has been duly admitted to membership in the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association and has not been suspended or expelled and whose dues are currently paid in full.

Dues

The annual dues of the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association are as follows:

$125.00 Regular members including non-resident members

$90.00 Attorneys employed by municipal, parish, state or federal government and who, because of such employment, are prohibited from maintaining a private law practice

$95.00 Attorneys qualifying as Young Lawyers. Includes $20.00 Young Lawyer Section dues (Young Lawyers Section is comprised of members of the Bar who are under thirty nine (39) years of age, or have practiced law for less than five (5) years).

SECTIONS

$25.00 Family and Juvenile Law Section Membership (Must be a member in good standing with the SWLBA)

$25.00 Workers’ Compensation Section Membership (Must be a member in good standing with the SWLBA)

$20.00 Women’s Section Membership (Must be a member in good standing with the

All dues shall be payable by the first of each year in advance, and failure of any member to pay dues on or before the first day of March shall be cause for termination of membership. Membership may be reinstated in accordance with the bylaws.

Clerk of Courts and District Courts

The Southwest Louisiana Bar Association includes four classes of membership. The classes and qualifications for each class are:

Active Members are attorneys with membership in good standing in the Louisiana State Bar Association who reside in and/or maintain a law office in the parishes of Calcasieu, Cameron, Beauregard, Allen and Jefferson Davis.

Non-Resident Members are attorneys with membership in good standing in the Louisiana State Bar Association who cannot qualify as Active Members.

Emeritus Members are retired attorneys and retired judges of the state, federal and municipal courts, who are not practicing law and who reside in the parishes of Calcasieu, Cameron, Beauregard, Allen and Jefferson Davis.

Honorary Members are all active judges, including hearing officers, of the state and federal courts who reside in the parishes of Calcasieu, Cameron, Beauregard, Allen and Jefferson Davis and who, because of their judicial office, are prohibited from practicing law. The Executive Council or the active membership of this corporation may elect any member of the legal profession, irrespective of residence or of membership in the Louisiana State Bar Association, as an Honorary Member of this Corporation in tribute to the member’s meritorious service to the legal profession and to the public.

Non-Resident, Emeritus and Honorary Members have all the privileges of Active Members, except the privilege of voting and holding office.

Active and Non-Resident Members shall pay such annual dues and special assessments as determined by the Executive Council. Senior and Honorary Members shall pay no dues or assessments.

Cameron Parish Clerk of Court
http://www.cameronparishcoc.com/

36 th Judicial District Court (Beauregard)
https://www.36jdc.com/

Allen Parish Clerk of Court
http://www.laclerksofcourt.org/clerksofcourt.htm

Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal
http://www.la3circuit.org/

Western District of Louisiana
United States Bankruptcy Court
www.lawb.uscourts.gov/

FAQ

Question: Does the SWLBA provide legal advice?
Answer: No. The SWLBA does not provide legal advice. Should you need free and/or income based help, please contact one of the following organizations to see if they can meet this need.
· SWLA Law Center – 337-436-3308
· Acadiana Legal Services – 337-237-4320
· Southwest Louisiana Bar Foundation – 337-936-1015

Question: Does the SWLBA provide its members mailing information?
Answer: Please contact Kim Guidry, Executive Director, for more information at 337-497-0090