Early Life & Career

Jessica Foster is a native of Detroit, Michigan. She attended high school at Detroit Country Day School where she completed the International Baccalaureate Program and was a member of the basketball and track teams. Upon graduating from high school, Jessica attended Columbia University in New York City. While at Columbia, Jessica majored in political science with a concentration in human rights. Jessica served as President and Political Chair of the Black Students Organization during a pivotal moment in the University's history regarding issues of diversity and cultural sensitivity. In this capacity of leadership, Jessica first realized her strong desire to use her voice, knowledge, and experience to advocate on behalf of others. Jessica identified her personal mission to change the world by becoming a voice for the voiceless.

Legal Training

Prior to attending law school, Jessica worked as a paralegal for three years at a civil rights litigation firm in New York City. She gained significant knowledge about the legal profession and the defense of the rights of others which confirmed her desire to become an attorney. While in law school at Temple University in Philadelphia, Jessica realized that her true passion was trial advocacy. During her summers, Jessica interned at the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission as well as the District Attorney's Office in Lawton, Oklahoma and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She also completed the Elderly Law Project Clinic at Temple University. After becoming a licensed attorney, Jessica began her legal career as an Assistant District Attorney within the Trial Division at the Philadelphia DA's Office. Jessica then served as an Assistant City Attorney at the City Attorney's Office in Lawton, Oklahoma. Most recently, Jessica served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Major Crimes Division of the Oklahoma County DA's Office where she prosecuted hundreds of cases, including homicides, shootings, robberies, burglaries, and juvenile matters. Jessica has taken numerous cases to jury trial and verdict on behalf of the State of Oklahoma.

Career at Smith Clinesmith

Jessica is honored to be a member of the Smith Clinesmith team since February 2022.