About James Robert
James Robert Barnes built a legal foundation that starts in the classroom and runs into community institutions. He graduated from the State University of New York at Binghamton in 2001 with a B.A. in Philosophy, Politics and Law and a concentration in Music. He went on to earn his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law in 2004. Those years shaped his approach to practice: careful analysis, attention to detail and a steady regard for process.
After law school, Barnes entered private practice and took positions that led him to his present firm. He is admitted to practice in New York and is also admitted to the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court. He is listed as a lawyer at Burke & Casserly, PC, where he has taken on client work, written pleadings and provided counsel across a range of matters handled by the firm.
Barnes’s professional life extends beyond case files. He holds a number of civic and professional roles in the Albany area. He is a current member of the Albany County Bar Association and the Estate Planning Council of Eastern New York. He serves on the board of The New York Bar Foundation. For the Visiting Nurse Service of Northeastern New York’s Foundation Board he serves as president. He also participates on the Professional Advisory Committee for Interim HealthCare in Albany. These roles place him at the intersection of law, health care and community services.
Those community ties inform the subjects that dominate his practice. He often works on matters related to estate planning and probate. He also handles questions that touch on elder care, health care directives and the legal aspects of long-term care planning. Colleagues note his steady presence in professional organizations and his willingness to take on board and advisory responsibilities that link legal work to community needs.
Barnes has maintained active membership in bar organizations since the mid-2000s and continues to contribute to local and state legal institutions. He has combined private practice with board service in health-related nonprofits, bringing legal perspective to organizations that serve older adults and families. He currently practices at Burke & Casserly, PC, where his work centers on estate planning, probate and elder law.
