Meet your Attorney
LaToya R.A. James, Esq.
Our founder LaToya James is an experienced mediator, negotiator, zealous advocate and relentless trial attorney. Former Suffolk County Senior Assistant District Attorney, LaToya James, developed her love of investigation, case evaluation and trial practice early in her career. As a prosecutor, she distinguished herself as a champion for victims of child abuse and domestic violence.
LaToya’s Story
In 2013, LaToya founded The James Firm focused on her motto “Advocacy Elevated”. She sought to level the playing field between the State and the public by providing the residents of Suffolk County access to her years of prosecutorial experience and vast knowledge of the inner workings of the court system. While LaToya initially focused her private practice solely on criminal defense, her passion for helping families in crisis led her to expand her services to include complex contested Family Law, Guardianship and Surrogate matters.
LaToya is committed to practicing with integrity and is relentless in the pursuit of justice for her clients. She values the confidence her clients place in her and earns their trust by personally working with each client throughout all stages of their legal journey. Ms. James personally evaluates each case to provide a thorough, no nonsense assessment of the strengths and weaknesses. She works tirelessly to help each client achieve the most favorable resolution.
Attorney James in the legal Community
LaToya James serves as a member of the Executive Board of the Suffolk County Criminal Bar Association, a member of the Judicial Screening committee of the Suffolk County Bar Association, Co-Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion committee of the Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association and is a member of the Amistad Long Island Black Bar Association. Ms. James is committed to empowerment and advancement of women, persons of color and persons with disabilities within the legal community and Suffolk County at large. To that end, she serves on numerous advisory committees within the Unified Court system.
Academic and Career
| School | Major | Degree | Graduated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hofstra University School of Law | Law | JD – Juris Doctor | 2006 |
| City University of New York, Queens College | Political Science | BA – Bachelor of Arts (Cum Laude) | 2003 |
Ms. James is the recipient of numerous accolades including the Excellence in Empowering Women Award and the Hon. Toni Bean Award. LaToya’s activism on behalf of victims and survivors of Domestic Violence and her philanthropic endeavors has earned her citations from the Suffolk County Executive and Legislature, the New York City Council, the New York State Assembly, and the United States Congress. The Long Island Herald and its media partners have named Ms. James as one of the Top Attorneys on Long Island. In 2023, Attorney James was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for volunteerism from President Joseph R. Biden.
| Award Name | Granting Organization | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Top Lawyers of Long Island Award | Long Island Herald | 2024 |
| Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteerism | President Joseph R. Biden | 2023 |
| Attorney of the Year | You Can Go To College Committee | 2023 |
| Excellence in Empowering Women Award | Long Island Against Domestic Violence | 2022 |
| Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 | The American Society of Legal Advocates | 2015 |
| Top 100 Trial Lawyers | The National Trial Lawyers | 2014 |
| Clients’ Choice | Avvo, Inc. | 2014 |
| Merit Award for Excellence in Prosecution | U.S. Marshall’s NY/NJ Regional Task Force | 2006 |
| NITA Scholarship | National Institute for Trial Advocacy | 2002 |
| Position | Association Name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Member of Judicial Screening Committee | Suffolk County Bar Association | 2020–present |
| Executive Board Member | Suffolk County Criminal Bar Association | 2014–present |
| Member | New York State Bar Association | 2006–present |
| Member | Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association | 2014–present |
| Member | Amistad Long Island Black Bar Association | 2014–present |
- Certified Surrogate Court Mediator
- Certified Divorce Mediator
- Certified Child Custody Visitation Mediator
- Certified Supervised Visitation Instructor
- Licensed Notary Public
- Licensed Real Estate Broker – New York and Pennsylvania
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