James L. Hilburn

A native of Texas, James was raised in Baton Rouge and received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance, from Louisiana State University in 1985. He received his Juris Doctorate from the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1989. He is licensed to practice before all state courts in Louisiana, the United States District Courts for the Middle, Eastern, and Western Districts of Louisiana, the United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, and is a member of the Bar of the United States Supreme Court. James is an AV-Preeminent rated attorney in Martindale-Hubbell.

James has spent his entire 30-plus year legal career engaged in extensive civil jury trial litigation, with an emphasis on defending civil rights lawsuits against the state of Louisiana and local law enforcement and corrections agencies, officers, and officials. James also has experience defending claims involving challenges to state statutes and local ordinances, corrections facility medical malpractice, prison conditions of confinement, automobile accidents on behalf of auto liability insurers and governmental agencies, including police pursuits, road design, construction, and maintenance defects, premises liability, and construction law. James has litigated federal and state cases all over the state of Louisiana and has appeared as pro hac vice counsel in other states.

James is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association and the Baton Rouge Bar Association.

James has volunteered his time and knowledge to provide pro bono legal services for people who could not otherwise afford basic legal services, such as through the Baton Rouge Bar Foundation Pro Bono Project.

Bar Admissions

Louisiana 1989

U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit

U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana

U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana

U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana

Professional Associations and Memberships

Louisiana State Bar Association

Baton Rouge Bar Association