About James Russell
James Russell Traut is a licensed attorney admitted to practice law in the State of California. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1978. His license is currently in active status. Mr. Traut is the founding partner of the Traut Firm, a law firm located at 5 Hutton Centre Drive, Suite 700, Santa Ana, California. He has been practicing law for over 47 years, serving clients throughout Southern California.
Mr. Traut earned his Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1978. Prior to law school, he completed his undergraduate education at California State University, Long Beach, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology in 1972. During his time at Pepperdine, he developed a strong foundation in legal principles that have guided his extensive career.
Mr. Traut concentrates his practice in the areas of legal malpractice and serious personal injury law. He represents individuals who have been harmed by the negligence of attorneys, as well as clients involved in complex personal injury cases, including motor vehicle accidents, truck and motorcycle collisions, bicycle injuries, and premises liability. His practice encompasses all stages of litigation, including initial case evaluation, discovery, mediation, settlement negotiations, and trial proceedings in both state and federal courts.
Throughout his career, Mr. Traut has handled cases in the Superior Court of California for the County of Orange, the United States District Court for the Central District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He has also appeared before the California Court of Appeal on multiple occasions. Prior to founding his own firm, he worked as an associate at a mid-size litigation firm in Santa Ana for several years.
Mr. Traut is an active member of the Orange County Bar Association and the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He holds membership in the Consumer Attorneys Association of California and the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles. He is also a certified Civil Trial Specialist and Civil Pretrial Practice Advocate through the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Mr. Traut is fluent in English and Spanish, allowing him to serve the diverse communities of Southern California effectively.
