Louisiana Employment Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Louisiana employment attorneys who handle LEDL discrimination, wage, retaliation, and wrongful-termination claims for workers across New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, and Lake Charles.

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Matched with a Louisiana attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free Louisiana employment case review

A Louisiana attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

How we match your Louisiana employment case

When you submit a Louisiana employment matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A employment matter needs someone who handles employment work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Louisiana law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Louisiana who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Get started How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Exhibit A

What happens with an employment claim in Louisiana

Day 0
Something happens at work.
A firing, demotion, missed pay, harassment, retaliation. Write down dates, names and what was said, and save emails and pay stubs before access disappears.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A Louisiana employment attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Weeks 1–4
Your attorney builds the record.
Personnel file, pay records, texts, witness accounts, the handbook. Employers keep meticulous files; you need one too.
Months 1–3
Demand, or an agency charge.
Many Louisiana employment claims start with a demand letter or a charge with the state agency or the EEOC. Your attorney picks the route that protects your deadlines.
Before the 1-year deadline
Suit is filed if it has to be.
Louisiana gives 1 year from the date it happened. Filing keeps your leverage; missing it ends the claim.
Resolution
Settlement or judgment.
You pay nothing along the way. The fee — typically 33% — comes only out of what’s recovered. If nothing is recovered, you owe nothing.

State Anti-Discrimination Statute: LEDL
Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law (LEDL), La. R.S. § 23:301 et seq. Protected: race, color, religion, sex (incl. pregnancy), national origin, age 40+, disability, sickle cell trait, genetic information. Sexual orientation and gender identity covered federally (Bostock).
Deadline to File Charge: 1 year
1 year to file with the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights (LCHR), 180 days for EEOC. LEDL allows direct suit in state court within 1 year of the discriminatory act, plus 6 months tolling during administrative process.
At-Will Doctrine: At-will state
At-will state with narrow exceptions. La. C.C. art. 2747 codifies at-will employment for indefinite-term contracts. Statutory protections for workers' comp retaliation (La. R.S. § 23:1361), whistleblowing (§ 23:967 environmental/safety violations), jury duty, military service.
Non-Compete Enforceability: 2 years
Strictly regulated under La. R.S. § 23:921. Must be in writing, geographically limited to specific named parishes/municipalities, time-limited to 2 years from termination, and supported by protectable business interest. Otherwise unenforceable. No blue-pencil — overbroad agreements are void.
Minimum Wage & Overtime: 15 days
Louisiana minimum wage tracks federal $7.25/hour (no state statute setting higher minimum). Overtime under federal FLSA only. Louisiana Wage Payment Act (La. R.S. § 23:631 et seq.) requires final pay within 15 days of termination and provides penalties for late payment.
Typical attorney fee: 33%
33%–40% contingency — no fee unless you win

The Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law (LEDL, La. R.S. § 23:301 et seq.) prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40+), disability, sickle cell trait, and genetic information at employers with 20+ employees (15+ for some claims). Sexual orientation and gender identity are not statutorily protected at state level but covered federally under Title VII per Bostock. Charges may be filed with the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights (LCHR) within 1 year or the EEOC within 180 days. Louisiana is at-will with a narrow public-policy exception. Non-competes are strictly regulated under La. R.S. § 23:921 — must be in writing, geographically limited to specific parishes/municipalities, time-limited to 2 years, and supported by a protectable business interest. Louisiana minimum wage is $7.25/hour (federal); overtime under federal FLSA. Louisiana has no state paid sick or family leave.

Exhibit B

When to call an employment attorney in Louisiana

Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.

Exhibit C

Employment cases we take in Louisiana

Which one is closest to yours?

Race and national-origin discrimination

LEDL La. R.S. § 23:332 and Title VII. New Orleans hospitality, Baton Rouge petrochemical, and Lake Charles industrial workforces generate ongoing claims.

Sound like yours? A Louisiana attorney reviews it free — no fee unless they win.

Start my free review

Exhibit D

How much do Louisiana employment attorneys cost?

Sample settlement statement

Louisiana · Employment

Recovery$100,000

Attorney fee · 33%− $33,000

Case costs (advanced by firm)repaid at the end

To you$67,000

Due today$0

Try a different recovery$100,000

$5,000$3,000,000

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Most Louisiana employment attorneys work on contingency: the fee is a share of what they recover, and nothing if they don’t.

Louisiana employment attorneys work on contingency or hybrid arrangements — typically 33%–40% of recovery. LEDL, Louisiana Wage Payment Act, and federal employment statutes shift attorney fees to the employer when the worker prevails.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Get startedTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit E

What your Louisiana employment compensation can include

A Louisiana employment recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.

Back Pay

Lost wages and benefits from termination to judgment under LEDL and federal law. Uncapped.

DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Exhibit F

Louisiana employment questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Louisiana attorney will review it for free.

Start free review

File with the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights (LCHR) within 1 year of the discriminatory act, or the EEOC within 180 days. LEDL also allows direct filing in state court within 1 year. The state administrative process suspends the SOL for up to 6 months.

LEDL covers race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40+), disability, sickle cell trait (La. R.S. § 23:352), and genetic information. Sexual orientation and gender identity are not statutorily protected at state level but Title VII covers both per Bostock. New Orleans and Shreveport have local fairness ordinances.

Yes. La. C.C. art. 2747 codifies at-will employment for indefinite-term contracts. The public-policy exception is narrow — statutory protections only (workers' comp retaliation, environmental whistleblowing, jury duty, military service).

Only if they strictly comply with La. R.S. § 23:921. Must be in writing, limited to specific named parishes or municipalities (not "the state of Louisiana"), no longer than 2 years from termination, and tied to a legitimate protectable interest. Louisiana courts will NOT blue-pencil overbroad agreements — they will void them entirely. This makes Louisiana non-competes very vulnerable to challenge.

Louisiana has no state minimum-wage statute setting a higher rate than federal — federal FLSA $7.25/hour applies. Tipped employees may receive $2.13/hour direct wages if tips bring the total to the full minimum.

No. La. R.S. § 23:1361 prohibits discharging or discriminating against an employee for asserting a workers' comp claim. Damages include reinstatement, 1 year of lost wages, and attorney fees.

Not without legal review. LEDL and federal Title VII / ADA / ADEA / FLSA / FMLA claims remain valuable. ADEA releases (40+) require 21 days to consider and 7-day revocation.

Employment attorneys by city in Louisiana

Same Louisiana rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.

Other case types in Louisiana

All Louisiana practice areas →

Animal Incident attorneysLouisiana’s dog-bite rules are among the most plaintiff-friendly in the country — owners are strictly liable for the damage their dog causes.

Business Dispute attorneysLouisiana non-competes are only narrowly enforceable — up to two years, and only with specific geographic and business-area limits spelled out.

Car Accident attorneysLouisiana extended the filing window for injury claims from one year to two years effective July 2024 — a major shift for plaintiffs.

Consumer Protection attorneysThe Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act allows actual damages, triple damages for willful violations, and attorney fees.

Criminal Defense attorneysThe U.S. Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s split-jury verdicts in 2020 — and the state’s habitual-offender law makes sentencing high-stakes.

Defective Product attorneysThe Louisiana Products Liability Act is the only route for a defective-product claim — it replaced the older negligence theories entirely.

Family Law attorneysLouisiana is a community-property state — and its no-fault divorce requires 180 days of living separately (365 with minor children).

Immigration attorneysLouisiana has immigration courts in New Orleans, Oakdale, and Jena — Oakdale is one of the country’s busiest immigration detention courts.

Lemon Law attorneysThe Louisiana Lemon Law covers new vehicles within one year or 12,000 miles — and the manufacturer pays attorney fees if you prevail.

Medical Malpractice attorneysLouisiana medical malpractice damages are capped at $500K against qualified providers — and the state Patient Compensation Fund pays the excess layer.

Personal Injury attorneysThe filing window for injury claims was extended to two years effective July 2024 — pre-reform claims still run on the old one-year clock.

Slip and Fall attorneysLouisiana slip-and-fall claims against merchants require proof the store knew or should have known about the hazard — one of the tougher states for these cases.

Social Security Disability attorneysLouisiana Social Security hearing offices in New Orleans, Shreveport, and Baton Rouge process moderate volumes — federal appeals precedent for the region shapes review.

Workers’ Compensation attorneysLouisiana workers’ comp runs through the state Office of Workers’ Compensation — and wage benefits are two-thirds of your average weekly wage.

Louisiana Employment Attorneys

How we match your Louisiana employment case

Case type

Size and complexity

Jurisdiction and licensing

Capacity and fit

What happens with an employment claim in Louisiana

Something happens at work.

Tell us what happened.

Your attorney builds the record.

Demand, or an agency charge.

Suit is filed if it has to be.

Settlement or judgment.

When to call an employment attorney in Louisiana

Employment cases we take in Louisiana

Race and national-origin discrimination

Sex, pregnancy, and LGBTQ+ discrimination

Age discrimination (40+)

Disability discrimination and accommodation

Religious discrimination and accommodation

Retaliation and whistleblower

Wage and hour (Louisiana + FLSA)

Independent-contractor misclassification

FMLA leave issues

Wrongful termination (statutory)

Hostile work environment

Non-compete defense

How much do Louisiana employment attorneys cost?

What your Louisiana employment compensation can include

Back Pay

Front Pay

Compensatory Damages

Punitive Damages

Liquidated Damages

Attorney Fees and Costs

Louisiana employment questions, answered

Employment attorneys by city in Louisiana

Other case types in Louisiana

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