[en] The yrast and near-yrast level scheme of light neutron-rich ¹⁴³La (Z=57, N=86) is reinvestigated and expanded and that of ¹⁴⁴La (N=87) is proposed for the first time by measuring prompt γ rays from the spontaneous fission of ²⁵²Cf at Gammasphere. Spins/parities are assigned to the lowest-lying levels of ^143,144La based on the early studies of β^- decay, and the assignments for high-spin levels of ^143,144La are made by measuring internal conversion coefficients and following the level systematics of the neighboring heavier La isotopes and even-even Ba and Ce nuclei. The B(E1)/B(E2) ratios, energy displacements δE(I) and rotational frequency ratios ω^-(I)/ω⁺(I) of the new parity-doublets of ^143,144La indicate that octupole deformations/correlations also develop in these nuclei. The band-crossings observed in a rotational frequency range of 0.31 to 0.34 MeV for the two even-parity bands in ¹⁴³La but being absent in ¹⁴⁴La are interpreted as due to alignment of a pair of i_13/2 neutrons in ¹⁴³La