If you live in Louisiana and spend any time scrolling through local headlines, you've likely seen the name Jill Craft. She isn't your typical "billboard lawyer" grinning next to a pile of cash. In fact, if you’re looking for someone to handle a quick fender bender, she’s probably not the first person you call. But if the world is caving in because your employer fired you for something illegal—or if you're a whistleblower facing the wrath of a massive state institution—Jill Craft is the name that tends to surface.
Baton Rouge has no shortage of legal talent. However, the legal landscape here is a bit of a "small town" vibe where everyone knows everyone. This makes it particularly hard to find an attorney willing to take on the "big guys." Jill Craft attorney Baton Rouge has carved out a reputation precisely by doing the opposite of what is easy. She takes the cases that make people in power uncomfortable.
The Reality of Fighting City Hall (and Everyone Else)
Most people think of employment law as just HR paperwork. It's not. In Louisiana, we are an "at-will" employment state. Basically, this means you can be fired for almost any reason—or no reason at all. But there are lines. You can't be fired for your race, your gender, or for reporting actual crimes.
Craft has spent decades walking those lines. She doesn't just sit in an office; she's often in the middle of high-stakes drama. Recently, she's been representing Ken Levy, an LSU law professor who was sidelined after making political comments. It’s a classic First Amendment fight. A judge actually ordered LSU to reinstate him in early 2025, which was a massive win for academic freedom. It’s the kind of case that reminds you that tenure is supposed to mean something.
- Employment Litigation: Handling everything from wrongful termination to complex non-compete disputes.
- Civil Rights: This is where she really shines, often representing police officers or state employees who were retaliated against for speaking up.
- Discrimination: She has litigated cases involving the ADA, sexual harassment, and racial bias for over 30 years.
She isn't afraid of the cameras, either. You’ll find her on local radio shows like Talk Louisiana or in the thick of a Senate hearing. Back in 2017, she was the one standing up for Sen. Troy Brown during his expulsion hearings. Whether you liked the guy or not, Craft’s job was to ensure the process was fair. That's the thing about her—she seems to care more about the rules and the rights than the popularity of the client.
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Why Experience in the 19th JDC Is Everything
If you’ve ever stepped foot in the 19th Judicial District Courthouse on St. Louis Street, you know it’s a maze. Literally and figuratively. Having a local attorney like Jill Craft, who has been practicing since 1991, changes the dynamic. She knows the judges. She knows the clerks. She knows how the "Baton Rouge way" works.
Honestly, it’s about more than just knowing the law. It’s about knowing how the local power structures try to stall cases. In 2024, she helped settle a major First Amendment lawsuit for "Unfiltered with Kiran," a local news outlet. The city-parish tried to deny them media credentials, basically trying to pick and choose who gets to be a journalist. Craft didn't back down. The settlement wasn't just about money; it was about the principle that the government can't decide who is "press" just because they don't like the coverage.
A Career Built on Tough Cases
It’s easy to represent the winner. It’s hard to represent the person everyone has already decided is the loser. Craft has a history of taking on the Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD) and various state boards. In the past, she represented officers like William Duplessis Alcorn Jr. and Albert Burns Sr. in long-running discrimination suits against the city. These aren't the kind of cases that wrap up in a week. They take years of grinding through depositions and appeals.
She graduated from the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1991. Since then, she’s stayed local. Her office is right there on St. Ferdinand Street. She’s a "Super Lawyer" and has won the Joseph Keogh Award, but if you talk to people who have worked with her, they mostly mention her tenacity. She’s the person you hire when you want a "pitbull" in the courtroom.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Employment Lawsuits
A lot of people think if they get fired and it feels "unfair," they have a case. They don't. Unfair isn't illegal. You need a specific violation of a statute.
This is where the consultation process with someone like Craft is vital. She’s known for being pretty blunt. If your case is a loser, she’s likely to tell you. Litigation is expensive and emotionally draining. You don’t want a lawyer who just tells you what you want to hear so they can collect a retainer. You want the truth.
"The hallmark of a true democracy is the fundamental access of freedom of the press and the public to the deliberations of their officials," Craft said after the Kiran Chawla settlement.
That quote tells you everything about her philosophy. It's not just about the individual; it's about the precedent. If the city can bully one reporter, they can bully them all. If LSU can silence one professor, no one is safe.
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Real Talk: The Cons of High-Profile Attorneys
There are always two sides to every coin. Because she takes on such high-profile, complex cases, she's busy. Very busy. If you’re looking for an attorney who will hold your hand and call you every single day for a status update, a solo practitioner or a small firm leader like Craft might not be your speed. Her focus is usually on the "war" of the litigation itself.
Also, because she takes on the establishment, she has enemies. That’s just part of the job. In the legal world, if everyone likes you, you probably aren't doing much.
Actionable Steps If You Need Legal Help in Baton Rouge
If you think you have a claim for discrimination or wrongful termination, don't just walk into a law office. You need to be prepared.
- Document Everything: Keep a log of every weird interaction, every "off" email, and every disciplinary meeting. Do not keep this on your work computer. If you get fired, you lose access to that data immediately.
- Check the Statute of Limitations: In Louisiana, you often have very little time—sometimes only one year—to file a claim. If you wait, you lose.
- Get Your EEOC Charge Ready: For most employment cases, you have to go through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission first. You can't just jump straight to a lawsuit.
- Look for Specific Expertise: Don't hire a divorce lawyer for an ADA harassment case. You need someone who lives and breathes employment statutes.
Jill Craft has been doing this since the early 90s. She’s seen the laws change, seen the courts shift, and seen the city of Baton Rouge grow. Whether it's representing a high-profile coach at LSU or a rank-and-file police officer, her approach remains the same: find the violation, hold the line, and don't let the big guys win just because they have more money.
If you are facing a legal battle in the Capital Region, your first step is gathering your paper trail. Sort your documents by date and write a clear, one-page summary of what happened. This makes it much easier for an attorney to evaluate whether you have a winnable case or just a bad boss. Reach out to the Baton Rouge Bar Association if you need a referral, or contact Craft's office directly to see if your case fits her current docket.