About James Jeffrey
James Jeffrey Lee began his legal career in the public sector. In 2007 he joined the Public Defender’s Office for Tennessee’s Twenty-Fifth Judicial District as an assistant public defender. The courtroom became his classroom. He handled arraignments, hearings and trials for clients who could not afford private counsel.
He moved into private practice in 2009 as an associate at Leitner Williams Dooley & Napolitan, LLC. There he worked on a range of criminal matters and learned the demands of litigating in state court while refining trial preparedness and case strategy. A year later he opened his own practice. Since 2010 he has operated The Law Office of J. Jeffrey Lee.
Lee is licensed to practice in Tennessee and is admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He also holds certification as a Criminal Trial Specialist from the National Board of Trial Advocacy. That credential reflects peer review and testing related to trial work and indicates sustained engagement in contested cases.
The path from public defender to private practitioner shaped his approach. He has experience handling courtroom procedures, jury trials and post-conviction matters. His background includes direct trial experience from the time he served in the public defender’s office through his years in private practice. He has handled trial preparation, evidentiary hearings and appellate filings in both state and federal forums.
Lee participates in professional organizations connected to criminal defense. He is a current member of the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Right to Survive/RSOL. Those affiliations keep him connected to developments in criminal law and defense strategy and provide regular opportunities for continuing legal education.
Clients and colleagues describe him as pragmatic and procedural in court. He favors clear courtroom presentation, careful evidence handling and detailed motion work. He spends considerable time preparing witnesses and testing the strengths and weaknesses of a case before trial.
He maintains an active practice through The Law Office of J. Jeffrey Lee, representing clients in criminal defense matters at the trial and appellate levels in Tennessee and in proceedings before the Sixth Circuit. His current practice focuses on criminal trial work and appeals.
