Immediately after obtaining his law degree from the University of Tulsa in 1972, Jim began his legal career as a Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force. The vast majority of his four year tour was spent serving as a General Courts-Martial Prosecutor in the Trial Judiciary. Upon discharge, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in Tulsa County, Oklahoma for one year.

Since 1977, Jim's practice has been concentrated in the defense of civil litigation matters in not only general liability but also products liability, environmental and insurance law, aviation law, and professional liability for hospitals, physicians, nurses, accountants, architects and engineers.

He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, Tulsa County Bar Association, Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel, and a Charter Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and The American Inns of Court. He is admitted to practice in all federal and state courts within the State of Oklahoma, the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.