Since being sworn in to practice law in Georgia on 11/13/2009, Jim has practiced many areas of the law, including family law/domestic relations, real estate closings, criminal defense, property rights litigation, general civil litigation, and personal injury litigation. Jim has drafted all types of contracts, and has done estate planning work. After serving as the law clerk, then staff attorney, for the 3 judge/5 county Northern Judicial Circuit of Superior Courts, Jim spent the first 3 years of his practice in the courtroom litigating primarily divorce and custody matters, general civil matters, and misdemeanor criminal offenses. Next he spent a year focusing on real estate transactions, before returning to a trial-focused practice and opening his own law firm in 2014. On January 1, 2020, Jim merged his firm with his father’s firm in Elberton, Georgia, adding a third attorney, and renaming the firm to Dyal Jenkins. Jim remains focused on personal injury and mediation.
Since 2010, Jim has been a registered civil mediator, having received specialized training in divorce mediation from the Fanning Institute in 2011. Jim firmly believes that mediation is an exceptional opportunity for adverse parties to come together and attempt to resolve their differences with a neutral facilitator who has no interest in the outcome, but endeavors only to bring the parties together in a mutually agreeable manner. As a mediator, Jim often has the opportunity to share a unique perspective on the case that the parties and their attorneys may not have considered, which frequently helps to avoid a jury or bench trial that could have been devastating to one or both parties.
Jim is blessed with an amazing wife, Tiffany, and two wonderful sons, and lives in Gwinnett County. His office is in the Northlake/Decatur area of Atlanta, but he has practiced all over Georgia, from the northeast corner to the southwest corner. Jim is a member of the HOA Board in his community, and usually helps coach whatever sports teams his son is on at the time. He enjoys spending time with his family, jogging, lifting weights, amateur woodworking, networking, studying spirituality and faith, and studying the law.
Jim is a graduate of the 2019 LEAD (Leadership Education & Advanced Direction) class, conducted through the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association; only 16 trial lawyers were selected to participate in this 6-month exclusive course.
Areas of Significant Experience:
- Divorce and Custody
- Automobile Collisions
- Premises Liability
- Tort/Personal Injury
- Property Law
Court Admissions:
- Georgia State Trial Courts
- Georgia Court of Appeals
- Federal Court – Northern District of Georgia
- Federal Court – Middle District of Georgia
Administrative Fee:
2 Party Case: $125.00 per hour per party*
3 (or more) Party Case: $100.00 per hour per party*
*$75.00 per hour for travel more than ten (10) miles beyond I-285, plus mileage reimbursement (current federal rate) if driving, and reimbursement for reasonable accommodations if overnight travel required.