Louisiana had many masters before becoming part of the United States. The area was first claimed by Hernando de Soto for Spain in 1541. Over the years, it belonged to Great Britain, France and even the Republic of West Florida, among others. It became the 18th state on April 30, 1812. The first Mardi Gras parade stepped off in 1838.

The Pelican State is home to almost 4,500,000 people, but its population profile has changed drastically in recent years, due in part to Hurricane Katrina, which decimated the area in 2005. New Orleans, one of the hardest hit areas, saw its population drop from nearly 485,000 residents in the 2000 census to only 223,388 in 2006. Its capital, Baton Rouge fared better, keeping a stable population around 230,000.

Louisiana Legal Resources

The following resources provide support and access to additional information for anyone needing answers to Louisiana law-related questions.

Louisiana State Bar Association: The LSBA tries to ensure equal opportunities for all lawyers as well as equal access to lawyers for the public. It provides various publications, continuing legal education and access to Fastcase, an online legal research resource, among other benefits. The public can find informational brochures and contact information for a lawyer referral service.

Law Library of Louisiana: You may search the online catalog of the Library from this website. The site also provides useful links to other government and library resources.

Supreme Court of Louisiana: The court’s website provides information about the court, the various judicial entities and links to community education resources.

Resources for Legal Marketers in Louisiana

Legal marketers and administrators provide valuable support to lawyers and other legal professionals. The following resources give them the support they need to perform their jobs to the highest standards.

Legal Marketing Association, Southeastern Chapter: The LMA provides valuable tools and information to professionals who market law firms and other legal services organizations. The Southeastern Chapter has more than 400 members and serves 10 states.

Association of Legal Administrators, New Orleans Chapter: The ALA provides resources, services and educational opportunities to help legal administrators keep up with the best practices in law firm management. The New Orleans Chapter has over 100 members.

Legal Marketing Jobs: Find legal marketing jobs in Louisiana