A proud graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1977, Jim worked as an insurance adjuster for one year following graduation. He then attended law school at the University of South Carolina where he was Comments and Notes Editor of the South Carolina Law Review.   During law school, he worked for an insurance defense firm and was a member of the Order of Wig and Robe. He joined Pope Aylward Sweeney & Santaniello, LLP  after graduating from law school in May of 1981 and retired in 2019 after a long and distinguished career with the firm.

A native of Mecklenburg County, Jim was raised in Davidson and Charlotte and was on active duty in the United States Army from 1972 to 1974 when he served as a military policeman.

Jim was also named by NC Best Lawyer as the 2016 Best Lawyer in litigation and non-litigation insurance law.