James A. Spokes

Bio

James A. Spokes is the Managing Partner of The Scott Law Firm, LLC in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he leads a growing team of associate attorneys and oversees the firm’s professional development with a focus on client-centered advocacy. His practice is concentrated in the area of personal injury law—including auto accidents, premises liability, and workers’ compensation—where he brings a strategic, compassionate, and results-driven approach to every case.

Mr. Spokes also has over 13 years of experience in complex criminal defense, representing clients in both state and federal courts throughout Louisiana. He has developed a particular focus on defending non-citizen clients facing criminal charges with potential immigration consequences, a specialization that reflects his deep knowledge of the intersection between criminal and immigration law.

He currently serves on the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel for the U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Louisiana, representing indigent defendants in federal criminal cases.

Mr. Spokes earned his Juris Doctor and Diploma in Civil Law from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University in 2011, after completing his undergraduate studies at LSU with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. He is admitted to practice in all Louisiana state courts and in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, Eastern District of Louisiana and Western District of Louisiana.

An active member of the legal community, Mr. Spokes belongs to numerous professional organizations, including:

• The Louisiana Association for Justice
• The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• The Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• The American Immigration Lawyers Association
• The Baton Rouge Criminal Defense Lawyers Association

He has also been a featured speaker on criminal and immigration law issues, including at the Louisiana State Bar Association’s 2018 conference in New Orleans, where he presented “Immigration Law and Crimes: A View from Both Sides.”

A proud resident of Baton Rouge since 2003, Mr. Spokes is deeply rooted in the community he serves. He is married and the proud father of two daughters, and he brings the same dedication to his family life as he does to advocating for his clients.

Speaking Engagements

• Immigration Law and Crimes: a View from Both Sides” – Louisiana State Bar Association. April 2018, New Orleans, LA.

Areas of Practice

• Criminal Defense
• Personal Injury

Bar Admissions

• Louisiana
• U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana

Education

• Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University

Received Juris Doctorate (J.D.) and a Diploma in Civil Law (D.C.L.)

• Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Received a Bachelors of Science in Finance

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Baton Rouge Bar for Criminal Justice
• The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• The Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• The American Immigration Lawyers Association
• The Louisiana Association for Justice
• The Baton Rouge Criminal Defense Lawyers Association