Jacki Smith is a partner at The Lambert Firm practicing in the areas of maritime litigation / Jones Act cases, maintenance and cure issues, vessel collisions and allisions, wrongful death, general personal injury, and LHWCA matters. Jacki hails from Patterson, Louisiana in St. Mary Parish, where her interest in the marine/offshore industry developed at an early age, due to her family’s connection to the industry. Her late grandfather was employed to supervise the first big-inch pipeline installed offshore, which began a long string of “firsts” that he developed and pioneered during his 40 years in the diving business, including being the first civilian diver certified by the Navy to “wet-weld,” pioneering the use of “lock out” submarines and later, the first ROVs in the Gulf of Mexico, and managing the first underwater radiography equipment and pipeline repair procedures. Today, Jacki advocates for commercial divers and other seamen in maritime personal injury litigation.
Jacki joined The Lambert Firm in 2013 after receiving her Juris Doctorate from Loyola University New Orleans School of Law. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business with a concentration in Management and Finance from Louisiana State University in 2008.
She is admitted to practice in all Louisiana State Courts, United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana, The United States Court of Federal Claims, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Jacki is a member of the New Orleans Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, Louisiana Association for Justice, American Association for Justice, the Association for Women Attorneys, and Public Justice. Jacki has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star (2019).
In addition to her law practice, Jacki is also enthusiastic and passionate about children/early childhood development and serves on the Board of Directors of the McMains Children’s Developmental Center, a facility that provides therapeutic services for children with disabilities and/or delays.
EDUCATION
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, New Orleans, Louisiana
J.D. – 2012
Louisiana State University
B.S. – 2008
Honors: Dean’s List
Major: Business Administration – Human Resource Management
ADMISSIONS
Louisiana
United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana
United States Court of Federal Claims
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
PRO HAC APPEARANCES
Florida, Missouri, Texas
ORGANIZATIONS
New Orleans Bar Association
Louisiana State Bar Association
American Bar Association
Association for Women Attorneys
Louisiana Association for Justice
Public Justice
Federal Bar Association
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
Super Lawyers Rising Stars: 2019 – 2021
National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 under 40
Sigma Iota Epsilon National Honorary and Professional Management Fraternity
The Society for Human Resource Management
Rotaract
Phi Alpha Delta
Real Estate Law Society
PRESENTATIONS
“Attorney Wellness: Tips for Managing Stress and Navigating the “New Normal” Imposed by the Pandemic”, LAJ Last Chance CLE, December 10, 2020
“First Time for Everything”, New Orleans Bar Association, Procrastinator’s Programs, December 11, 2019