Jacqueline Fortier, 38
Attorney/Partner
Employer: Harrison and Fortier, P.C.
Lives in: Yulee, Fla.
Professional responsibilities: I am an attorney with Harrison and Fortier PC, a full-service law firm in Kingsland. I have been with this firm for nearly 11 years and have been a partner for the last three. I represent families in Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida for any of their needs. I focus my practice presently in family law, but I also represent students in school board tribunals. Our office assists individuals who have been injured and need assistance.
I also serve as the solicitor for the city of Kingsland, representing the city in the prosecution of traffic and minor offenses, and ordinance violations in the Municipal Court.
Accomplishments/Honors:
Camden County High School Class of 2003
American University, B.A. 2006
Touro College of Law, J.D. 2009
Florida Bar 2011
Georgia Bar 2013
Southern District of Georgia 2014
11th Circuit Court of Appeals 2021
United States Supreme Court 2021
Camden County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Graduate Class of 2015
Associate Magistrate Judge Camden County 2017-21
Georgia Bar Young Lawyers Division Leadership Graduate Class of 2020
City Solicitor – City of Kingsland 2021 – present
Georgia Child Support Commission – Technology Subcommittee Member – 2023
Community Involvement:
Camden House Board of Directors 2012
Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors 2016
Choir Our Lady Star of the Sea 2014-17
Why did you go into your particular field? I became an attorney because I wanted to help people in my community.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? An astrophysicist.
What was your first job? McDonald’s on Kings Bay.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received? You cannot advocate for others if you can’t advocate for yourself first.
What’s your favorite thing about your job? I often encounter people in some of the worst times in their lives. I know that I can make a difference for somebody and get them where they need to be in life. It is important to me that I know I can provide someone some security, whether that’s personal safety or financial security.
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career?
First, the harder you work, the better the rewards. Also, relationships matter. I have been fortunate in that I have been able to build a network of people I can call to refer clients, or to ask questions, but I know my network would be even better if I had understood the value of this earlier.
Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? I have been fortunate to have many mentors as my career has grown. My mother, Mary Castleberry, has never doubted that I would do whatever I put my mind to.
My law partner, Garnett Harrison. She took me under her wing as a law clerk before I had taken the Georgia Bar at a time when I was struggling to find work and has helped me become a good advocate for this community. She has encouraged me to explore additional opportunities, including serving as a magistrate judge and later as city solicitor. She has also encouraged me in my advocacy for my clients, including my appellate work.
I have been lucky to have had many other women lawyers to help grow and shape my career.
When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? I enjoy knitting and hiking. I do home improvement projects, and I spend time with my husband, Adam, and dog, Charley. We are expecting our first child in the fall and are getting ready
What is something about you that most people don’t know? In high school, I did the original drawings for the city of Woodbine Historic Mural. The mural has been repainted a few times, but it still has my name on the placard.
How do you hope to grow in your career? I hope to continue making a difference in people’s lives in Camden County and the surrounding community.
I hope to continue to learn new areas of the law, including more advocacy for students including the tribunals, special education, and student loan work, but also to add more military law practice.
If you couldn’t do what you’re doing now, what would you be doing? I think I would have been a congressional staffer to assist in drafting legislation benefiting families and women.