Ernest Jacob Colonna

Ernest Jacob Colonna

also known as Jacob Colonna, E. Jacob Colonna

5.0
Rating: 8.9

Licensed for 17 years

Criminal defense Lawyer at Lake Charles, LA
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, Child Custody, Divorce & Separation, DUI & DWI

900 Ryan Street, Suite 402, Lake Charles, LA

About Ernest

Biography

Practice Areas

4

Practice Areas

Criminal Defense 50%

Aggressive and experienced criminal defense attorney in Lake Charles, LA. Representing clients facing felony charges, violent crimes, theft charges, misdemeanors, bond reductions, and probation violations .

17 years

50%
Child Custody 20%

Child custody attorney in Lake Charles protecting both parental rights as well as the best interests of the children. We prioritize a strategy to reduce conflict and expenses for clients while ensuring proper advocacy.

14 years

20%
DUI and DWI 15%

Lake Charles DWI defense. Focused representation for 1st, 2nd, and felony offenses. Proper resolution of DWI offenses is important due to the escalating penalties with subsequent offenses, with a third offense being a felony.

15 years

15%
Divorce and Separation 15%

As a family law attorney representing clients in Lake Charles and throughout Calcasieu Parish, I guide families through the complexities of dissolving a marriage to minimize conflict and costs to my client. We also handle uncontested divorces.

14 years

15%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 30 minutes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Louisiana for 17 years

State: Louisiana

Acquired: 2009

Eligible to Practice Law

No misconduct found

Location

Colonna Law Firm, LLC

900 Ryan Street, Suite 402, Lake Charles, LA, 70601

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Ernest Jacob Colonna's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

8 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (8) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 8 reviews

Posted by anonymous | August 02, 2026 | Hired Attorney

Knowledgeable

Helped me with a civil case. He was very knowledgeable and helped me tremendously! I would definitely recommend him to anyone needing a civil lawyer!

Posted by Alexis | July 23, 2026 | Hired Attorney

Mr. Jacob is the best lawyer to hire

Just want to thank Mr. Jacob for helping me with my case I was charged with a stolen firearm first defense and when I say, Mr. Jacob showed up in court and he showed out for me, he had the charges drop down to misdemeanor charge credit of time serve no probation case close he is an awesome lawyer a...nd I appreciate him.

Posted by Megan | June 18, 2026 | Hired Attorney

Smooth sailing

Divorce is a very hard thing to go through but with the right lawyer by your side you can get through it. Mr. Colonna made the process very smooth and he was very professional. Not only was the process smooth but he took the time to answer any questions I had and walked me through the process every ...step of the way.

Posted by Christopher | June 04, 2026 | Hired Attorney

Amazing criminal attorney.

I would highly recommend Jacob if you have any legal issues. He was always very upfront and honest about my situation and was always readily available if I needed anything. Jacob exceeded my expectations and got me a very favorable outcome that had a pivotal impact on my life. I would definitely rec...ommend Jacob to anyone with criminal matters that need to be handled.

Posted by Cherry | May 21, 2026 | Hired Attorney

Professional, Honest, and Always There When Needed

For the past 15 years Jacob has represented me through two very difficult child custody cases and I truly cannot recommend him enough. Throughout every step of the process he has been professional, knowledgeable, honest, and incredibly dedicated to protecting both me and my children’s best interests.... Family court can be emotionally exhausting and overwhelming but Jacob always made sure I understood my options and felt supported during every stage of my cases. He is thorough, responsive, and extremely experienced in custody matters. What stood out most to me was his ability to stay calm and focused under pressure while still genuinely caring about my family and the outcome. Over the years he has consistently fought hard for me, communicated clearly, and handled difficult situations with professionalism and integrity. Having an attorney you can trust during custody battles is priceless and I’m beyond grateful to have had Jacob in my corner for so many years. If you are looking for a lawyer who is compassionate, experienced, and truly committed to his clients I highly recommend Jacob. He has made a lasting impact on my life and my children’s lives, and I will always be thankful for everything he has done for my family.

See All Client Reviews

Ernest Jacob Colonna's Lawyer Endorsements

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Experience

Rating:  8.9 (Excellent)

Honors

2026

Client's Choice Award, Avvo

2026

#1 Criminal Justice Attorney, BusinessRate

2026

Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Lake Charles, Expertise.com

2026

Best Criminal DUI/DWI Lawyers in Lake Charles, Expertise.com

2026

Best Divorce Lawyers in Lake Charles, Expertise.com

2025

Best of - Criminal Justice Attorney, BusinessRate

2023

5-stars, Lawyers of Distinction

2021

Best Divorce Lawyers in Lake Charles, Expertise.com

2018

Nation's Premier Top Ten, NACDA

Work Experience

2013 - Present

Managing attorney, Colonna Law Firm, LLC

2008 - 2012

Associate, Richard Law Firm, LLC

2007 - 2008

Clerk, Richard Law Firm, LLC

Associations

2018 - Present

NACDA

Charter Member

2009 - Present

Southwest Louisiana Bar Association

Member

2009 - Present

Louisiana State Bar Association

Member

2023 - 2026

Southwest Louisiana Bar Association - Family Law Section

Member

2013 - 2015

Southwest Louisiana Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section Executive Board

Board Member, Officer

2009 - 2013

Louisiana Association for Justice

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

Thibodeaux v. McNeese State University, 22-450 (La. App. 3 Cir. 1/25/23)

Obtained reversal of trial court's dismissal of client's wrongful termination suit against a state university, on the issue of proper service under Louisiana's state-service statute. Third Circuit remanded the case for further proceedings.

See More Legal Cases

Education

2008

Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center

JD - Juris Doctor

2005

Louisiana State University

Political Science

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

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What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution