Originally from Fort Smith, where he attended Fort Smith Southside High School. Graduated from Hendrix College in 1993, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. Attended Mississippi College School of Law, earning a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1997.

Practiced law in Jonesboro for ten years prior to forming Scholtens & Averitt, P.L.C., in 2007.

Primarily practices in the area of social security disability, personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, family law and criminal law. Licensed to practice law in all Arkansas State Courts, in the United States District Court of the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and in the Supreme Court of the United States of America.

A member of the Craighead County Bar Association, Arkansas Bar Association, Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association and a Sustaining member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives. In 2001, became a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, which is limited to trial lawyers who have achieved a trial verdict or settlement in the amount of $1,000,000 or more. Obtained verdicts or settlements for $1,000,000 or more in numerous cases between 2002 and 2007. Associate counsel in over twenty class action lawsuits in Arkansas. Obtained a trial verdict of over $3,000,000 in one of the twenty class action lawsuits.

Past member of the Craighead County and Jonesboro Library board, current member of the Craighead County Nursing Center board.

Married to Jonesboro native Mary-Margaret Hester Scholtens. Jay and Mary-Margaret have four boys: Nathan (age 12); William (age 10); and John and Ben (ages 9). The Scholtens attend First Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Arkansas.  Parents, John and Carol Scholtens live in Little Rock, Arkansas.