When a lawyer serves an active period of suspension or is disbarred, the lawyer must comply with certain procedures in order to return to the practice of law. An active suspension is the period of suspension served exclusive of any periods of deferral.
Summary Reinstatement - Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XIX, §23 (to Top ↑)
If an attorney has served an active period of suspension for one year or less, the attorney must comply with summary procedure outlined in §23. In order to be reinstated, the lawyer must file with the Court and serve on disciplinary counsel an affidavit stating the lawyer has:
- fully complied with the requirements of the suspension order,
- filed the attorney registration statement required by Rule XIX, § 8(C) of Rule XIX, and
- paid currently owed bar dues, disciplinary administration and enforcement fees, filing fees and disciplinary costs.
With regard to the disciplinary costs (i.e. the costs and expenses of the underlying disciplinary matter), the lawyer must attach to the affidavit a certificate from the Administrator of the Disciplinary Board evidencing that the lawyer has paid all disciplinary costs or that an appropriate payment plan has been executed by the lawyer with the Board. The certificate can be requested by calling the Board’s office in Metairie, Louisiana. Please note that the Board’s Administrator’s certificate only pertains to the costs and expenses of the underlying disciplinary proceeding. Payment of bar dues and the disciplinary assessment and the filing of the registration statement are completed with the Louisiana State Bar Association.
Reinstatement/Readmission – Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XIX, §24 (to Top ↑)
If an attorney has served an active period of suspension for more than one year or has been disbarred, the attorney must file a petition and application with the Disciplinary Board, as well as comply with all other requirements outlined in Rule XIX, §24, in order to be reinstated (i.e. return from suspension) or readmitted (i.e. return from disbarment). If an attorney has been permanently disbarred, the attorney is not eligible for readmission.
The application shall be completed and filed with the petition for reinstatement/readmission. Please note, the petition and application must be accompanied by a $500.00 deposit with the Board Administrator to cover the anticipated costs of the proceeding. A petition and application for reinstatement/readmission will be rejected by the Board if the petitioner has not complied with Rule XIX, §24(A-D).