Statutes, codes, and regulations
Louisiana Court Rules
Rules for Louisiana District CourtsTitle II - Rules for Civil Proceedings in District Courts
Chapter 9 - Procedure
Rule 9.12 - Enrollment as Counsel of Record

La. R. Dist. Ct. 9.12

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As amended through May 31, 2024
Rule 9.12 - Enrollment as Counsel of Record

All licensed Louisiana attorneys in good standing may enroll as counsel of record:

(1) by oral notice made in open court when all parties or their counsel are present; or
(2) by filing a written Notice of Enrollment or a written Notice of Limited Appearance in accordance with La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 853 with the clerk of court, with copies to all other enrolled counsel or self-represented parties and to the court.

A Notice of Limited Appearance shall specifically state the limitation of legal services by subject matter, proceeding, date, or time period in accordance with Rule 1.2(c) of the Rules of Professional Conduct. See forms in Appendix 9.12 A (family law) and Appendix 9.12 B (non-family law).

The applicable Appendix Form 9.12 form shall be filed if an attorney is making a limited appearance, with or prior to the initial pleading or prior to the initial hearing. The Notice shall bear the signatures of both the appearing attorney and the client, unless the client is unavailable to sign at filing. If the Notice does not bear the client's signature, a certificate attesting to the scope of limited enrollment, signed by the client, shall be filed into the record within ten (10) days of the filing of the initial Notice of Limited Appearance.

Any pleading filed by an attorney making a limited appearance shall state in bold type on the signature page of that pleading: "Attorney for limited purpose of [matter or proceeding]."

La. Dist. Ct. 9.12

Adopted April 1, 2002, effective 4/1/2002; amended October 29, 2003, effective 1/4/2004; amended November 3, 2004, effective 1/1/2005; amended November 20, 2009, effective 1/1/2010; amended November 21, 2011, effective 1/1/2012; amended November 27, 2012, effective 1/1/2013; amended May 15, 2013, effective 6/1/2013.

Comment

Attorneys enrolling pro hac vice shall comply with Rule XVII, Section 13 of the Rules of the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Filing the initial petition or first responsive pleading constitutes enrollment, and no further notice of enrollment is needed unless the attorney is making a limited appearance as authorized by Rule 1.2(c) of the Rules of Professional Conduct.

Rule 1.2(c) of the Rules of Professional Conduct allows an attorney to limit the scope of the representation if the limitation is reasonable and the client gives informed consent. See also Rule 1.0(e) of the Rules of Professional Conduct.

The use of standard forms for limited appearances makes the notices easily recognizable to judge, court staff, opposing parties and the client. The form notices require the attorney to identify the scope of a limited representation with specificity.

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