About the Firm

James King’s journey to becoming a nationally respected trial attorney began in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, at Central Michigan University, where he graduated with a passion for advocacy, leadership, and service.

While at Central Michigan University, James spearheaded a movement calling on the university to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day by canceling classes in honor of the holiday. After a determined and lengthy campaign, the university agreed to dismiss classes for the first time in its history. The resolution was passed in 2004, and the university has continued the tradition ever since.

Following his graduation, James pursued another lifelong passion: football. He briefly played professional football after being drafted into the NFL. But his promising athletic career took an unexpected turn when he was falsely accused and convicted of a crime. Fighting to clear his name fundamentally changed the course of his life. The experience gave James a firsthand understanding of how devastating the criminal justice system can be when the system gets it wrong—and ultimately redirected his passion from athletics to the law.

In the fall of 2009, James enrolled at the David A. Clarke School of Law in Washington, D.C., determined to become the kind of advocate he had once needed himself. During law school, he was elected President of the student body and distinguished himself both academically and through his commitment to justice and community service. He earned the Dean’s Fellow Scholarship and became a member of the David A. Clarke School of Law Law Review.

His commitment to advocacy was also recognized through numerous honors, including the Mason Civil Rights Scholarship Award for Extensive Community Service, the Judge Pryor Award for Excellence in Criminal Justice, the David Niblak Scholarship Award for his commitment to criminal defense, and the Dean’s Cup for Outstanding Service.

After law school, James began building a career centered on trial advocacy and the defense of individuals facing some of the most serious consequences within the criminal justice system. As a supervising trial attorney with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, James handled dozens of jury trials involving assault, weapons offenses, and homicide. He also represented clients in revocation proceedings before the U.S. Parole Commission and in sealed juvenile proceedings involving a wide range of criminal offenses.

His work extended beyond individual cases. James was an integral member of a legal team that secured a sentence reduction for a man who had served 37 years of a life sentence. He also led litigation for a legal team that successfully overturned the conviction and sentence of a man who had been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

After returning home to Detroit, James became the Managing Partner of the Cochran Firm Detroit, where he represented clients in high-profile civil and criminal matters. He continued to distinguish himself as a trial lawyer, coming within one trial of an undefeated trial record during his tenure at the firm.

James later served as a Supervising Attorney at the Neighborhood Defender Service of Detroit, where he continued his commitment to both courtroom advocacy and the development of other attorneys. He achieved a perfect trial record in the cases he tried and supervised.

Through years of investigating hundreds of criminal cases, James developed an extensive understanding of the complexities of the criminal justice system, including the consequences of police misconduct and brutality. He has authored and argued motions that resulted in the dismissal of criminal cases prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Attorney General.

His experiences as both an individual who fought to clear his own name and as an attorney who has represented hundreds of people facing the power of the criminal justice system have shaped the foundation of his legal practice. James understands that effective advocacy requires more than knowledge of the law—it requires preparation, courage, persistence, and an unwavering commitment to the client.

Galvanized by the experiences of underrepresented communities, James became one of the founding members of the Black Public Defender Association. He has also served on the boards of two nonprofit organizations and has devoted significant time to community service. His volunteer work has included assisting individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill through the Mississippi Center for Justice, as well as volunteering with the D.C. Prisoners Project of the Washington Lawyers Association.

James is also committed to educating the next generation of advocates. He has trained public defender agencies, Criminal Justice Act panels, private practitioners, and law students. He previously served as an adjunct professor at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, where he taught Trial Advocacy.

Today, James is an accomplished attorney, educator, advocate, and author. He founded The King Legal Team to continue the work that has defined his career: standing beside individuals and families when they need a determined advocate most. His practice focuses on criminal defense and civil representation, including matters involving police misconduct, police brutality, civil rights, and personal injury.

From a football player whose life was unexpectedly redirected by the criminal justice system to a trial attorney who has spent his career challenging that same system, James King’s story is ultimately one of transformation. The experience that once changed the direction of his own life became the catalyst for a career dedicated to protecting the rights, dignity, and freedom of others.