Bar admissions
- Louisiana, 1989 (Louisiana Supreme Court)
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
She also appears in various state and municipal courts.
Education
Attorney Scott earned her law degree from Southern University Law Center, which later inducted her into its Hall of Fame. She also holds a Certificate of Achievement from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.
Experience before private practice
- Probation and parole officer. She began her career as the youngest probation and parole officer hired in Shreveport, supervising both first-time offenders and hardened criminals.
- Judicial clerk. She clerked for two District Court judges.
- Legislative assistant. She served as an assistant to a Louisiana State Senator.
- Paralegal instructor. She taught paralegal students.
Practice and notable work
Through Jacqueline A. Scott & Associates, Attorney Scott represents people injured in car accidents, 18-wheeler and commercial vehicle crashes, motorcycle accidents and wrongful death cases, and she continues to handle criminal defense matters. Over her career she has secured multimillion-dollar settlements for clients and became the first African American female lawyer to collaborate on approximately half a billion dollars in municipal bond transactions.
Selected results the firm has reported include a $13 million settlement, $4.5 million in a wrongful death case, $2.5 million in an offshore accident case, $1 million in an 18-wheeler case, $1 million in a wrongful death case and $500,000 in a car wreck case. See all case results or read the official firm facts.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different. †$500M+ is the total recovered for clients as reported by the firm.
Public service and boards
- Bossier Parish Board of Indigent Defenders
- United Way Board
- Southern University Law Center Chancellor’s Advisory Board
- Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Appointed to the Louisiana State Ethics Board by Governor Edwards
- Former member, LSU/Ochsner Board
- Former member, AT&T Advisory Board
- Certified as Colonel on the staff of Governor Edwin W. Edwards and Aide de Camp, Governor’s Staff
Honors and awards
- MyLegalWin Top Attorneys in America2026
- USA TODAY Woman of the Year2025
- African American Making a Difference Award2018
- 10 Best Law Firm Award2017
- Fascinating People Award2017
- Hospitality People Award2017
- Frontier Role Model Award2017
- Making a Difference Award, Shreveport Bar2016
- Southern University Law Center Hall of Fame Inductee
- NAACP Award of Recognition
- NAACP Dr. Jesse N. Stone Pioneer Award
- African-American Women Trailblazers Award
- L.L. Brandon Role Model and History Maker Award
- Shreveport-Bossier Black Lawyers Association Appreciation Award
- Shreveport-Bossier African-American “Make A Difference” Award
- Chamber of Commerce Minority Business Woman of the Year
- Minority Business Council Small Business of the Year, and Small Business Award Nominee
- YWCA Women Leaders Creating Change “Woman of the Week”
- Selected “Woman of the Year”
- Department of Health and Human Resources Public Service Award
- University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business: Certificate of Achievement
- State of Louisiana Executive Department: Colonel on the staff of Governor Edwin W. Edwards and Aide de Camp, Governor’s Staff
- All Things, Inc. Award of Appreciation
- Bell South: The Real Yellow Pages Participation Award
Media and features
- Cover of SB Magazine: Top Attorneys
- Cover of SB Magazine: The Best Lawyers in Shreveport
- SB Magazine: “Best Lawyers in Shreveport / Bossier City”
- Named a favorite in SB Magazine’s Lawyers Poll every year from 2003 to the present
- City Life Magazine: “Women in Business”
- Cover of Twin City Community Journal, Special Edition: “A Tribute to Black History”
Attorney Scott also stars as “Justice Jacque” on the television show Cajun Court and launched the Justice for All seasoning line. You can watch the firm’s TV commercials and features in the As Seen on TV section.
Community and philanthropy
Attorney Scott has raised more than $200,000 for police vests, donated more than $50,000 to local schools and universities, and mentors young lawyers, including her daughter, Lawryn Scott.
- National Association of University Women, Shreveport Branch: Gold Sponsor Award
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Shreveport Alumnae Chapter: Gold Sponsor Award
- National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Beta Alpha Chapter: 10th Annual African-American History Month Scholarship Luncheon
- Jobs for America’s Graduates-Louisiana: Guest Speaker and Member
- Mt. Pleasant M.B.C. Black History Program Speaker
- Temple Baptist Church #2 “Women’s Survival” Guest Speaker
- Fair Park High School Commencement: Service Appreciation
In her own words
Growing up with limited means was not a setback. It was a foundation. I cherish every God-given opportunity, knowing that thinking outside the box has been the key to my success. With determination and resilience, I rose from a three-room shotgun house shared with six siblings to a thriving legal career.
My interest in law deepened while I was a probation and parole officer, when I became captivated by the forensic evidence in a high-profile Shreveport murder trial. That case, encouragement from my college roommate, and my experiences in the justice system fueled my determination to attend law school.
To pay for my education at Southern University Law Center, I hustled. I sold Mary Kay’s “Angel Fire” cologne from my car and picked up trash at Louisiana Downs Racetrack after work. After earning my law degree and passing the bar, I faced a male-dominated world of private practice where racial and gender biases were stark. I was determined to prove that women, especially African American women, could not only compete but excel.
I studied relentlessly, attended top legal seminars, and built strong professional relationships. Navigating the “good old boys” system wasn’t easy, but perseverance paid off. Guided by my mentor, the late Attorney Alma Jones, I committed myself to the pursuit of justice through hard work, integrity, and resilience.
My greatest inspiration was my mother, Ada Scott, a self-educated woman whose wisdom rivaled that of any scholar. She taught me humility, kindness, gratitude, resilience in adversity, and to treat others with dignity and respect. I wish she could see what that foundation has built.
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
Talk with Attorney Scott’s team
If you were hurt in a wreck in Shreveport, Bossier City or anywhere in North Louisiana, call (318) 746-5997 or request a free case review. You can also read what clients say and browse our legal guides.
Awards, recognition and prior results do not guarantee or predict the outcome of any case.