Jim Kowalski Jr.

Jim Kowalski is president and CEO of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, which he joined as executive director in 2012. 

Prior to taking the post at JALA, he was a civil trial attorney based in Jacksonville, Fla., specializing in consumer protection litigation, including wrongful foreclosure and consumer fraud, complex personal injury, wrongful death, and premises liability litigation. Kowalski graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of San Francisco School of Law before serving as an Assistant State Attorney from 1989-1996, acting as Division Chief (County Court; Public Corruption Unit) and Senior Trial Attorney in the Special Assault/Sex Crimes and ROC (Repeat Offender Court) Divisions.

After leaving the State Attorney’s Office in 1996, he specialized in litigation and handled matters involving consumer protection, including wrongful foreclosure and consumer fraud, complex personal injury, wrongful death, and premises liability litigation. 

He was appointed to the NCLC board in 2026.