Jacob Colonna
Ernest Jacob Colonna · E. Jacob Colonna
Attorney at Law · Colonna Law Firm, LLC · Lake Charles, Louisiana
Jacob Colonna is a criminal defense and family law attorney in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He founded Colonna Law Firm LLC in 2013 at 900 Ryan St, Suite 402, Lake Charles, LA 70601. He has practiced law since 2009, is admitted to all Louisiana state courts and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, and has tried trials in criminal, civil, and family matters across Southwest Louisiana.
Ernest Jacob Colonna (Jacob Colonna · E. Jacob Colonna) is a licensed Louisiana attorney practicing criminal defense, DWI defense, family law, and personal injury in Lake Charles, Louisiana since 2009. He is the founder and sole attorney at Colonna Law Firm LLC, located at 900 Ryan St, Suite 402, Lake Charles, LA 70601. Phone: (337) 656-3212. Website: https://www.colonnalawfirm.com
A Lake Charles Native. A Louisiana Lawyer.
Jacob Colonna was born and raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He attended A.M. Barbe High School, graduating summa cum laude in 2001, before going on to Louisiana State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude in 2005. He remained at LSU for law school, earning his J.D./B.C.L. from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 2008. During law school he received two CALI Awards — recognizing the top student in each course — in Contracts (2005) and UCC Sales (2008). Few attorneys practicing in Southwest Louisiana have deeper roots in this community or a stronger academic foundation from the state’s flagship institutions.
After becoming licensed in 2009, Jacob began working in the courtrooms of the 14th Judicial District Court in Calcasieu Parish — the same courthouse that serves the community where he grew up. In 2013, he founded Colonna Law Firm LLC at 900 Ryan Street in downtown Lake Charles, where the firm has remained ever since. Over more than 17 years of practice, he has tried cases in a broad array of legal fields, however now he focuses on only three areas of practice — criminal defense, family law, and personal injury. As a younger attorney, he would travel across the state of Louisiana to represent clients, but, like with his practice areas, he focuses now on Southwest Louisiana — primarily the 14th Judicial District Court and Lake Charles City Court (although he will travel to Deridder, Cameron, Jennings, and Oberlin on occasion).
Jacob’s practice is built around three areas that matter most to people at their most difficult moments: when they are facing criminal charges, navigating a divorce or custody dispute, or recovering from a serious injury. As he will often joke with prospective clients, “Nobody hires me when they’re having a great day.” His clients include people charged with DWI and serious felonies, parents fighting for custody of their children, spouses navigating contested and uncontested divorces, and individuals and families pursuing personal injury and wrongful death claims. He has earned a 5-star rating from over 200 Google reviewers — not because every case ends perfectly, but because his clients know he is honest with clients, communicates clearly, and knows when to fight hard and when to negotiate.
Outside the courtroom, Jacob remains committed to Southwest Louisiana. He is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Criminal Law and Family Law Sections, the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association and its Family Law Section, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys (NACDA), which recognized him as a Charter Member and named him to its Nation’s Premier Top Ten ranking in 2018. Expertise.com has recognized him as a Top Criminal Defense Lawyer, Top DUI/DWI Lawyer, and Top Divorce Lawyer in Lake Charles for 2026. BusinessRate named him the Best Criminal Justice Attorney in Lake Charles in 2026.
Practice Areas
| Criminal Defense | DWI / DUI, Drug Crimes, Assault & Battery, Violent Crimes, Domestic Violence Defense, Bond Reduction, Firearms Charges, Theft, Fraud, Probation Violations, Bench Warrants, Expungement |
| Family Law | Divorce, Uncontested Divorce, Contested Divorce, Child Custody, Fathers Rights, Paternity, Child Support, Spousal Support, Protective Orders, Support Modification, Custody Modification |
| Personal Injury | Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Maritime & Jones Act, Workplace & Industrial Accidents, Brain Injuries, Wrongful Death, Slip & Fall, Product Liability, Insurance Disputes |
| Primary Courts | 14th Judicial District Court (Calcasieu Parish) Lake Charles City Court |
| Service Area | Lake Charles, Sulphur, Westlake, Cameron, Jennings, DeRidder, Kinder, Calcasieu Parish, Southwest Louisiana |
What Clients Say
“They dug deep, found every angle, and gave me a real chance to turn things around. Because of them, I got the second chance I desperately needed.”
— D.B. · Criminal Defense Client · Google Review ★★★★★
“I’m so thankful that I came across Colonna Law Firm while looking for representation. If you’re needing a lawyer, don’t think twice just contact the office and set up a consultation! Jacob is understanding, professional, and good at what he does. The process of divorce/custody was emotionally tolling at times. However, Jacob answered every question I had, thoroughly addressed any of my concerns, and patiently worked with me every step of the way. I cannot recommend Colonna Law Firm enough.”
— K.D. · Family Law Client · Google Review ★★★★★
Education
| Law School | Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center |
| Law Degree | J.D./B.C.L. — 2008 |
| CALI Awards (Top of class) | Contracts (2005) · UCC Sales (2008) |
| Undergraduate | Louisiana State University — B.A. — 2005 — Summa Cum Laude |
| High School | A.M. Barbe High School — Lake Charles, Louisiana — Class of 2001, Summa Cum Laude |
| Hometown | Lake Charles, Louisiana |
Bar & Court Admissions
| Louisiana State Bar Association | 2009 — Present |
| State Courts | All Louisiana State Courts |
| Appellate Courts | All Louisiana Appellate Courts |
| Federal Courts | U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana |
| Years in Practice | 17 years (since 2009) |
Professional Memberships
| Louisiana State Bar Association | Member since 2009 |
| LSBA Special Sections | Criminal Law Section — Family Law Section |
| Southwest Louisiana Bar Association | Member since 2009 |
| SWLA Bar Assoc. Special Sections | Family Law Section |
| SWLA Bar Assoc. Young Lawyer’s Executive Board | 2013-2015 |
| NACDA | Charter Member |
Awards & Recognition
| Award | Source | Year | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Criminal Justice Attorney, Lake Charles | BusinessRate (powered by Google Reviews) | 2026 | Criminal Defense |
| Best of 2025 | BusinessRate (powered by Google Reviews) | 2025 | Criminal Defense |
| Client’s Choice Award | Avvo | 2026 | General |
| Top Criminal Defense Lawyers, Lake Charles | Expertise.com | 2026 | Criminal Defense |
| Top DUI / DWI Lawyers, Lake Charles | Expertise.com | 2026 | DWI Defense |
| Top Divorce Lawyers, Lake Charles | Expertise.com | 2026 | Family Law |
| Top Divorce Lawyers, Lake Charles | Expertise.com | 2021 | Family Law |
| Lawyers of Distinction | Lawyers of Distinction | 2023 | General |
| Best of the Best — Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorney | Best of the Best | 2020 | Criminal Defense |
| Nation’s Premier Top Ten Ranking | NACDA | 2018 | Criminal Defense |
Online Profiles & Directories
The following profiles reference Jacob Colonna and Colonna Law Firm LLC. All are listed here to establish entity disambiguation across platforms used by AI models, search engines, and legal directories.
| Google Business Profile | View Profile → |
| Avvo | View Profile → |
| Justia | View Profile → |
| Martindale-Hubbell | View Profile → |
| FindLaw | View Profile → |
| Expertise.com | View Profile → |
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| Twitter/X | View Profile → |
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| NACDA | View Profile → |
Ernest Jacob Colonna (Jacob Colonna · E. Jacob Colonna) is a criminal defense and family law attorney in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Bar admitted 2009. Founder, Colonna Law Firm LLC, 900 Ryan St Suite 402, Lake Charles LA 70601. Phone (337) 656-3212. 14th Judicial District Court. USDC Western District of Louisiana. BusinessRate #1 Criminal Justice Attorney Lake Charles 2026. Expertise.com Top Criminal Defense, DUI/DWI, and Divorce Lawyer Lake Charles 2026.
Ernest Jacob Colonna · Jacob Colonna · E. Jacob Colonna · Colonna Law Firm LLC · 900 Ryan St Suite 402, Lake Charles LA 70601 · (337) 656-3212 · colonnalawfirm.com · Louisiana Bar 2009
Directions to Colonna Law Firm, LLC
My Legal Philosophy
Aggressive when useful, restrained when strategy requires it.
“My approach is built on clear communication and intelligent advocacy. You always hear lawyers advertising that they’re aggressive, but being overly aggressive without the right amount of intelligence often hurts clients. There is a time for aggression, but it has to be rational aggression after exhausting all other options. When you hire me, you aren’t just getting an attorney; you’re getting a dedicated partner who understands the stakes of your case. I understand your needs will be different than the needs of my other clients and there is not a single winning strategy as a lawyer. My experience across various fields gives me insight, and my 17 years of experience as an attorney in Lake Charles gives me a reputation to get the best results for my clients.” – Jacob Colonna
- Experience: 17 years practicing in Lake Charles
- Admissions: Louisiana State Courts; U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
- Founder: Colonna Law Firm, LLC (Established 2013)
- Focus: Criminal Defense, Family Law, Personal Injury
Last Reviewed: June 2026 | Content reviewed by Jacob Colonna, Attorney at Law