Legal research for Louisiana law firms - New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Lafayette
By LegiMatch Research Team · Published October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Short answer: a Louisiana research plan covers the Louisiana Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeal (five circuits), the Fifth Circuit for federal cases, and Louisiana's rule of pure comparative fault.
Louisiana's courts
| Court | Role |
|---|---|
| Louisiana Supreme Court | Highest court; binds every Louisiana court |
| Courts of Appeal (five circuits) | First (Baton Rouge), Second (Shreveport), Third (Lake Charles), Fourth (New Orleans) and Fifth (Gretna) |
| Trial courts | District courts (parish-based) |
Local rules worth knowing
Louisiana is a civil law jurisdiction: the Civil Code is the primary source of private law, and courts give weight to a consistent line of decisions (jurisprudence constante) rather than treating a single decision as binding in the common-law sense. Research starts with the Code article, then the line of cases interpreting it.
The negligence standard
Louisiana applies pure comparative fault: a plaintiff's recovery is reduced by their share of fault, even if they were mostly at fault.
Louisiana federal courts
| District | Main cities |
|---|---|
| Eastern District | New Orleans |
| Middle District | Baton Rouge |
| Western District | Shreveport, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, Alexandria |
Appeals go to the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans.
Case reporters and codes
Reported Louisiana decisions are in So.3d. The Louisiana Revised Statutes, Civil Code and Code of Civil Procedure is the starting point for statutory questions (legis.la.gov).
Sample matter
Example: "A New Orleans restaurant customer slipped on a puddle near the ice machine; the restaurant says nobody reported a leak." Begin with Louisiana appellate decisions on similar facts, then confirm the governing law - La. R.S. 9:2800.6 on merchant liability for falls - and each case's later treatment.
LegiMatch is built for the first step: describe the matter and get up to 100 similar decisions, ranked by a match score you can inspect, each linked to the court's own text. It's a research tool, not legal advice.
More states: courts in every major US city.
Frequently asked questions
What is jurisprudence constante?
A civil law doctrine under which a consistent series of decisions on a point carries persuasive authority, rather than a single decision binding later courts as in common-law stare decisis.
Which court of appeal covers New Orleans?
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal covers Orleans Parish and some neighboring parishes; the Fifth Circuit (in Gretna) covers Jefferson Parish and others.
Which federal circuit covers Louisiana?
The Fifth Circuit, which sits in New Orleans.
Sources
- Louisiana court system and legislature websites
- United States Courts, court locator (uscourts.gov)
This article is general information about legal research, not legal advice. Verify every authority before relying on it.
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