About James
James Dunn built a career that crosses two different professions. He studied English at the University of Chicago, completed a master’s degree in Communication and Media Studies at New School University, and earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles in 1996. Those degrees formed a background that blends storytelling, technical media understanding and law.
After law school, he moved into legal practice in Los Angeles. In 1997 he worked as a post-graduate law clerk at the Los Angeles County District Lawyer's Office. That same year he opened the Law Office of James Dunn and began handling criminal matters in private practice. He has kept that office as his base since founding it.
Before he became an attorney he worked in media production. In 1988 he worked on camera and sound for television production and in 1991 produced interactive media. Those early roles gave him experience in evidence, technology and handling complicated factual narratives—skills that later proved useful in court.
He is admitted to practice in California and to several federal venues: the United States District Court for the Northern, Southern and Central Districts of California and the Ninth Circuit. Those admissions allow him to represent clients in both state and federal courts across much of California.
Dunn’s professional memberships reflect the scope of his practice. He has belonged to the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers since 1998 and to California Lawyers for Criminal Justice since 2001. He joined the National Police Accountability Project in 2003 and has been a member of the California DUI Lawyers Association as a specialist since 2004. He is also a member of the National College for DUI Defense and the San Mateo County Bar Association.
Colleagues describe his practice as focused on criminal defense and DUI matters, with work that sometimes involves police accountability claims and federal litigation. He handles pretrial investigation, motions practice and trials. His background in media production also informs how he evaluates and presents technical evidence, recordings and witness testimony.
He maintains an active solo practice at the Law Office of James Dunn and continues to accept criminal defense and DUI cases, including matters that extend into federal court. Current practice focuses on criminal defense, DUI representation and police accountability work.
