can you get a divorce without a lawyer

  Don't know about LA, since LA law can be totally different from that of the other 49 states' in some respects (remnants of the old Code Civil from Napoleon's France), but in most states you have the right to file any legal action on your own, it's just a matter of whether you know what you are doing as to whether you get the job done or not.  As long as everything is agreed between the two of you, then it's possible, at least in Texas.  What complicates things is if there are minor children, real property, or pension benefits involved, but even that can be accomplished i, again, if you are given proper direction.       In Texas, the court clerks are prohibited from giving legal advice to litigants (officially),, but sometimes a clerk in the family law courts will give some basic direction or general forms to help pro se couples along who are trying to handle their own divorce.  

  In some jurisdictions, if there is spousal or child abuse involved, a free aid service such as Legal Aid may provide ocunsel for the divorce at no charge.

  Good luck.    

If he ends up getting a lawyer, you really should too or they could sneak in alot of things to mess you up.  Find a friend with a good divorce decree and use it as a guideline for the terms.