# Los Angeles Superior Court — Local Rules - Citation: LASC Local Rules - Subject: Local procedural rules for California's largest trial court - Source: https://www.lacourt.org/division/civil/CI0078.aspx - Last verified: 2026-05-13 > Authored from canonical California sources; verify against > lacourt.org before relying. LASC local rules are amended > frequently; always pull current rules from the court's website. --- ## Overview The Los Angeles Superior Court (LASC) is the nation's largest trial court, with more than 30 courthouses, approximately 580 judges and commissioners, and roughly 2.5 million filings per year. The civil division hears unlimited civil (above $35,000 in controversy), limited civil ($10,001–$35,000), complex litigation, and related proceedings. LASC local rules supplement the California Rules of Court; where they conflict, the CRC controls. LASC local rules are published on the court's website and are updated as amended. Department-specific rules (posted on each department's individual web page at lacourt.org/newsmedia/courtrooms) take precedence over the general local rules for matters before that department. --- ## Chapter 1 — General Rules ### Rule 1.0 — Application **Summary.** LASC Local Rules apply to all civil proceedings in Los Angeles Superior Court. They are to be read in conjunction with the CRC and the CCP. In the event of a conflict with the CRC, the CRC controls. ### Rule 1.5 — eFiling Requirement **Summary.** Electronic filing is mandatory for represented parties in unlimited civil cases. Self-represented parties are encouraged but not required to e-file. E-filing is through the court's authorized EFSPs (currently: One Legal, File & ServeXpress, and others listed on the court's website). --- ## Chapter 2 — Court Offices ### Rule 2.0 — Filing Hours **Summary.** The clerk's office is open for filing from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding judicial holidays. Documents filed electronically after 11:59 p.m. are deemed filed the next court day. ### Rule 2.3 — Working Copies (Courtesy Copies) **Summary.** Working copies (also called "courtesy copies") are required for most motions in unlimited civil departments. Parties must provide one working copy to the assigned department (not the clerk's office) with a "Working Copy" cover page. ``` (a) Requirement. Working copies of all motion papers, including opposition and reply, must be delivered to the assigned department. (b) Format. Working copies must: (1) Bear a "Working Copy" sticker or notation on the cover; (2) Include all exhibits in the same binder or package; (3) Have exhibits tabbed; (4) Be delivered to the department no later than the time the papers are required to be filed (or as specified by the department's procedures). (c) Checking department procedures. Many departments post specific working-copy requirements on their department web pages (lacourt.org/newsmedia/courtrooms). Check before filing. ``` **Practice note.** Failure to provide working copies is a common source of refusal to hear motions. Check each department's page; some require them 2 court days before the hearing, others on the day of filing. --- ## Chapter 3 — Civil Division ### Rule 3.2 — Assignment to Departments **Summary.** Civil cases are randomly assigned to a department based on courthouse and case type at filing. Once assigned, the case remains with that department for all purposes unless reassigned by the supervising judge. Reassignment requests are disfavored. ### Rule 3.3 — Calendar and Scheduling **Summary.** Each civil department maintains its own law and motion calendar. Hearing dates are obtained from the court's scheduling system (eCourt or the department directly). Most departments reserve law and motion hearings for specific days of the week (e.g., Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 8:30 a.m. or 10:00 a.m.). --- ### Rule 3.20 — Law and Motion — Notice of Motion **Summary.** A notice of motion in an unlimited civil matter must be filed and served at least 16 court days before the hearing. The notice must state the department and hearing date. Hearings may be reserved via the court's online reservation system. --- ### Rule 3.21 — Law and Motion — Tentative Ruling System **Summary.** LASC uses a tentative ruling system for law and motion matters in unlimited civil departments. Tentative rulings are posted on the court's website (lacourt.org/tentativeRulingNet/) by 8:30 a.m. (not 3:00 p.m. — note this differs from CRC 3.1308's default) on the court day before the hearing. ``` (a) Posting. Tentative rulings for unlimited civil departments are posted on the LASC website at https://www.lacourt.org/tentativeRulingNet/ by 8:30 a.m. the court day before the scheduled hearing. (b) Requesting oral argument. Any party that wants to contest the tentative ruling and request oral argument must: (1) Notify the opposing party by telephone or email; and (2) Contact the department by telephone by noon on the court day before the hearing. (c) No request — ruling becomes final. If no party contacts the department to contest the tentative ruling, no hearing will be held, and the tentative ruling becomes the final order of the court. (d) Finding tentative rulings. Navigate to https://www.lacourt.org/tentativeRulingNet/ → enter the case number or department number. ``` --- ### Rule 3.22 — Ex Parte Applications **Summary.** Ex parte applications in LASC must be submitted in the filing office of the department to which the case is assigned. Notice must be given to all parties by 10:00 a.m. the court day before the ex parte hearing (consistent with CRC 3.1302). --- ### Rule 3.25 — Motions in Complex Cases **Summary.** In complex cases assigned to the Complex Courts Program, the assigned judge sets the law and motion schedule by case management order. The general LASC local rules govern except as modified by the complex case management order. --- ### Rule 3.31 — Tentative Rulings — Limited Civil **Summary.** In limited civil departments, some departments post tentative rulings and some do not. Check the department's posted procedures. --- ### Rule 3.40 — Case Management Conference **Summary.** LASC sets case management conferences (CMCs) at approximately 180 days from filing (consistent with CRC 3.720). The CMC notice is mailed with the filing receipt. Each party must file a CMC statement on Form CM-110 at least 15 calendar days before the conference (consistent with CRC 3.722). --- ### Rule 3.55 — Trial Confirmation Conference **Summary.** Approximately 30 days before trial, LASC schedules a Trial Confirmation Conference (TCC). At the TCC, parties must confirm readiness for trial and advise the court of any motions in limine, estimated trial length, and witness lists. --- ### Rule 3.57 — Discovery — General **Summary.** LASC follows the Civil Discovery Act (CCP §§ 2016.010 et seq.) and CRC 3.1000–3.1020. Some unlimited civil departments require an Informal Discovery Conference (IDC) before a motion to compel may be heard. Parties must check the assigned department's standing order for IDC requirements. --- ### Rule 3.58 — Informal Discovery Conference (IDC) — Unlimited Civil **Summary.** In departments that require an IDC, the moving party must contact the department to schedule the IDC before filing the motion to compel. The IDC is an informal meeting (usually telephonic or in-person with the judicial officer or research attorney) to attempt informal resolution of the discovery dispute. ``` (a) Departments requiring IDC. Not all LASC unlimited civil departments require an IDC. Check the department's standing order posted on the LASC website before filing a motion to compel. (b) Procedure. In departments requiring an IDC: (1) The party with the discovery dispute contacts the department to schedule the IDC; (2) Parties meet (telephonically or in person) with the court; (3) If the dispute is not resolved, the moving party may then file a motion to compel. (c) IDC declaration. The motion to compel must include a declaration describing the IDC or stating that the IDC was not required by the assigned department. ``` --- ## Chapter 5 — Complex Litigation ### Rule 5.0 — Complex Litigation Program **Summary.** LASC has dedicated complex litigation departments (Departments 11, 12, 32, 40, 311, and others in the Stanley Mosk Courthouse and Spring Street Courthouse) that handle complex cases designated under CRC 3.400–3.402. The complex case program operates under its own CMC order and scheduling procedures. --- ## Chapter 7 — Electronic Filing and Service ### Rule 7.0 — Mandatory e-Filing **Summary.** As noted in Rule 1.5, mandatory e-filing applies to represented parties in unlimited civil cases. The current list of approved EFSPs is maintained on the court's website. ### Rule 7.2 — Filing Deadlines — Electronic **Summary.** An electronic filing submitted before midnight is deemed filed on that day; a filing submitted after midnight is deemed filed the next court day. The EFSP provides a transaction confirmation number and timestamp. --- ## Department-Specific Procedures Each LASC civil department posts standing orders and department-specific procedures on its departmental web page: ``` URL template: https://www.lacourt.org/newsmedia/courtrooms/?CrtRm= Example (Dept. 36, Spring Street): https://www.lacourt.org/newsmedia/courtrooms/?CrtRm=36 ``` Key department-specific variations (check the current page): - Whether working copies are required and when they are due - Whether IDCs are required for discovery motions - Page limits different from CRC 3.1113 (some departments allow more, some allow less) - Specific tentative ruling procedures or research attorney contact info - Ex parte hearing days and times --- ## Key LASC Forms and Resources | Resource | URL | |---|---| | Local Rules | https://www.lacourt.org/division/civil/CI0078.aspx | | Tentative Rulings | https://www.lacourt.org/tentativeRulingNet/ | | Civil eFiling | https://efiling.lacourt.org/ | | Department Pages | https://www.lacourt.org/newsmedia/courtrooms/ | | Civil Case Cover Sheet | Judicial Council Form CM-010 (mandatory) | | CMC Statement | Judicial Council Form CM-110 | --- ## Cross-References | Topic | LASC Rule | CRC Rule | CCP Section | |---|---|---|---| | Motion notice | 3.20 | 3.1300 | § 1005(b) | | Tentative rulings | 3.21 | 3.1308 | — | | Ex parte | 3.22 | 3.1302 | — | | CMC | 3.40 | 3.720–3.722 | — | | Discovery IDC | 3.57–3.58 | 3.1000 | § 2016.040 | | e-Filing | 7.0–7.2 | 2.252–2.261 | § 1010.6 | | Working copies | 2.3 | — | — |