Biography - James J Barney

James Barney brings a unique mixture of business and legal work experience to the American Public University System. Mr. Barney completed his undergrad studies at New Jersey’s Monmouth University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science. He later studied law at New York Law School, where he graduated with high honors. He is a member of the State Bars of Alabama, New Jersey, New York as well as the District of Columbia Bar. In 2009, Mr. Barney was also awarded a Master of Arts degree from the American Military University in Political Science.

Prior to attending law school, Mr. Barney worked for a number of years as a sales assistant and as a broker at two prominent Wall Street brokerage firms in New York City. As a broker and sales assistant, Mr. Barney worked in the World Trade Center for over three years at Cantor Fitzgerald Securities where obtained a working knowledge of the financial markets and various financial instruments. In 2004, Mr. Barney began law school as an evening student. The events of 9/11, which occurred in the second week of his law school classes, changed his career focus. Thereafter and starting in 2002, he dedicated himself to the full-time study and practice of law.

While a law student, Mr. Barney participated in a number of judicial internships, clerked for two well respected law firms, held a leadership role on the New York Law School Law Review, and published a number of law-related articles. Since graduating from law school, Mr. Barney has served as a law clerk to four federal judges in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, where he has had the opportunity to work on hundreds of cases.

In addition to Legal Writing and Research and Litigation Practice, Mr. Barney has expertise in a number of legal fields including Sports, Bankruptcy, Contract, Constitutional, Criminal, Business, and Tort Law.

He currently lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife Molly, daughter Dinknesh who was recently adopted from Ethiopia, and dog Seamus (Boston Terrier). His interests include travel and playing with my wife, daughter, and dog.