Jim was born in Alberta, Canada. He attended Moody Bible College where he obtained a Bachelor Degree in theology in 1965. In 1967, he graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1968, Jim joined the U.S. Navy. He graduated from flight school that same year, trained in the P-3 aircraft and became a P-3 aircraft commander. During his tenure in the Navy, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant, commanded an anti-submarine warfare crew, and became a P-3 flight instructor.

In 1976, Jim entered the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. He obtained his Juris Doctorate degree from McGeorge in 1979 and was admitted to the California State Bar that same year. While at McGeorge, he was honored as a finalist in the Moot Court Competition.

Jim has been admitted to practice before all the Superior Courts of California, the Appellate Courts of California, the Supreme Court of California, and the U.S. District Court, Eastern District.

Jim is a member of the American Bar Association, Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), the Consumer Attorneys of California [formerly California Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA)], the Sacramento Consumer Attorneys [formerly Capital City Trial Lawyers Association (CCTLA)], and the California and Sacramento County Bar Associations.

Jim is an Arbitrator and Pro Tem Judge in Sacramento County Superior Court, El Dorado Superior Court and Placer County Superior Court.

Jim is an instructor with the University of California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) and the University of San Francisco Law School, Intensive Advocacy Program.

Jim's principle areas of practice are personal injury, professional malpractice, including medical and legal malpractice, product liability, insurance litigation, construction litigation and employment-related litigation.