Steven W. Hale was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana in 1953. He was raised in Memphis, Tennessee and Little Rock, Arkansas before moving to Lake Charles, Louisiana. He considers Lake Charles his home.
He attended Landry Memorial High School and was Class President of the first graduating class of St. Louis High School in 1971. Whereupon he then attended Louisiana State University as an undergraduate before being accepted to attend Louisiana State University Law School as an early admissions candidate after three years of undergraduate course work.
He graduated from Louisiana State University Law School in 1977 at the age of 24. He was selected and participated on the Louisiana State University Law School Moot Court Board and graduated in the top of his class.
Seeking employment after graduation he began his career as a law clerk for the Judges of the 14th Judicial District Court in Lake Charles. He had the privilege of working with Judge Henry Yelverton, Judge Warren Hood, Judge William Swift, Judge L.E. Hawsey, and Judge Cecil Cutrer.
He was asked by the District Attorney of Calcasieu Parish, Frank T. Salter, Jr. to work as an Assistant District Attorney prosecuting criminal cases. As an assistant district attorney he successfully prosecuted felony and misdemeanor charges. He argued cases before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the Louisiana Supreme Court.
He decided to devote his talent and time to the private law firm of Salter, Streete and Hale. For over 20 years he represented people from all walks of life who were wrongfully injured through the negligence of others.
In the year 2000 he opened his own law practice to fight for and protect families who were injured. His practice focuses on serious personal injury, disability, and related family matters.
He particularly enjoys working on truck and automobile accidents, maritime, offshore and Jones Act accidents, industrial workplace safety issues and premises liability.
He has successfully handled thousands of personal injury claims.
He was awarded the highest peer review rating in Legal Ability and Ethical Standards of “AV” from Martindale-Hubbell for 2004-present.
He was selected as a Louisiana Super Lawyer in 2007, 2008, and 2014 to present. In 2012, he was named to the Top Personal Injury Attorneys in Acadiana.
He is admitted to practice in all State and Federal Courts in Louisiana.
Areas of Practice
- Limited Workers Compensation
- Successions, Last Will and Testaments, Medical Power of Attorney
- Family Law
- Social Security Disability
- Car accidents
- Bus accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- Boating accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Offshore and maritime accidents
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana, 1977
Education
- Louisiana State University Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Doctor of Jurisprudence – 1977
- Honors: Moot Court Board
- Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- B.S.
- Honors: Early Admission to Law School
Representative Clients
- Working Men and Women
- Refinery Workers
- Oil Field Workers
- Jones Act Seaman
- Maritime and Offshore Industry Workers
Honors and Awards
- Selected to Top Attorney in Acadiana in the fields of Admiralty and Maritime Law and Family Law
- Louisiana Super Lawyer, 2007-2008 and 2014 to present
- Selected to Top Personal Injury Attorney in Acadiana
- Martindale Hubbell highest possible peer review AV Rating in Legal Ability and Ethical Standards 2004 to present
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Louisiana State Bar Association, 1977
- Southwest Louisiana Bar Association, 1978 to present
- Louisiana Association of Wholesalers
Past Employment Positions
- 14th Judicial District Court, Law Clerk, 1978
- Calcasieu Parish, Assistant District Attorney, 1979
- Salter, Street and Hale Law Office, 1980-2000
- Steven W. Hale and Associates, Inc., APLC, 2000
Pro Bono Activities
- Volunteer Legal Services, Present
- Public Defender Attorney, 1979 to 1999
- Public Criminal Defender Board of Directors, 1979-1999
- Court Appointed Advocate for Children
- Louisiana State Bar Test Examiner by Appointment of Louisiana Supreme Court for Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure
- Served on Southwest Louisiana Bar Association Ethics Committee
- Served on Louisiana Family Law Certification Board by Appointment of Louisiana Supreme Court
Ancillary Businesses
- President, Lee Dee Wholesale Distributing Co., Inc. and Hale Wholesale Distributing Co., Inc.
- Real Estate Holdings Co-Manager, YOLO Properties, LLC
