Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any attorney employed by or under contract with the office, the district public defender, or nonprofit organization contracting with the office, district public defender, or the office to provide legal counsel to an indigent person in a criminal proceeding shall be licensed to practice law in the state of Louisiana. The provisions of this Subsection shall not be construed to prohibit the use of an attorney licensed to practice law in another state to provide legal counsel to an indigent person in a criminal proceeding on a pro-bono basis or who is receiving compensation from a grant administered by the office or from a grant administered by any nonprofit organization contracting with the office, provided that the out-of-state attorney is authorized to perform those services by the Louisiana Supreme Court. The legislature hereby specifically states that the provisions of this Subsection are in no way intended to, nor shall they be, construed in any manner which will impair any contractual obligations heretofore existing on June 1, 2007, of any out-of-state attorney authorized by the Louisiana Supreme Court to practice law in this state to provide legal counsel to an indigent person in a criminal proceeding.
La. R.S. § 15:161