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Both MCLE and LBLS transitioned to new LSBA websites and a new Information Technology
(“IT”) system in the summer of 2019. LBLS migrated to different software and a different host in July
2019. LBLS no longer receives IT assistance from the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board
(“LADB”); instead, the LSBA IT department is now responsible for LBLS IT requirements. LBLS has
a different website: https://www.lsba.org/Specialization/. Once a CLE is approved for specialization, it
appears on the LBLS calendar as an approved course. Specialists use the LBLS website to find
approved specialization CLE and appreciate that the LBLS approved course calendar is updated
frequently. The LBLS approved course calendar and current LBLS transcripts may be conveniently
accessed on the LBLS website. The LSBA IT department has worked hard to keep the LBLS website
and transcripts updated and accurate so that board certified specialists and applicants can access the
most current information.
Staffing
Specialization Director Mary Ann Wegmann has held her position for over six (5) years, starting
in April of 2017. Ms. Wegmann is responsible for executing the policies and directives of the Board
with reference to LBLS administrative activities and the nine (9) current board specializations. She has
diligently attended to the Board's routine business and the implementation of the Health Law
specialization in 2019 and Employment Law and Labor Law specializations in 2022. She assisted in
administering the first examinations in Employment Law and Labor Law in the summer of 2022. She
worked with the Board and the Advisory Commissions on revisions to the Employment Law Standards,
Employment Law Exam Topics, Labor Law Standards, and Labor Law Exam Topics, in order to begin
accepting applications for these two (2) certifications in 2021 and 2022. Nine (9) Employment Law
specialists were approved by the LBLS Board, fulfilling their requirements to be board certified
specialists effective January 1, 2023.
Ms. Wegmann provided support regarding the Resolution to amend the Appellate Practice
Standards, that was approved at the June 8, 2023 House of Delegates meeting. She has assisted the
LBLS Board and the Advisory Commissions in addressing issues concerning specialists, application
deadlines, exam schedules, and specialization CLEs, that arose due to the COVID 19 pandemic, by
scheduling virtual meetings or by email. Ms. Wegmann worked with the Board to administer virtual
proctored exams in Appellate Practice and Family Law beginning in August 2020. In August 2022 the
Board administered virtual proctored exams in Appellate Practice and Family Law for the third
consecutive year, finding that virtual proctored exams seemed to encourage applicants from all over
the state. The remaining 2022 exams were administered as “take home” exams. There were no “in
person” exams again in 2022 or 2023.
Ms. Wegmann works with MCLE and Program Sponsors to provide the necessary documents to
the Appellate Practice, Employment Law, Estate Planning and Administration, Family Law, Health
Law, Labor Law and Tax Law CLE Committees who review CLEs for specialization credit. Once a
CLE is approved for specialization credit, she updates the LBLS Approved Course Calendar to include