In 1991, I earned a Juris Doctorate Degree (law degree) from the University of Dayton School of Law. While attending law school, I received the American Jurisprudence Award from my Insurance Law professor for obtaining the highest grade in the class. I was licensed to practice law in Ohio that same year (1991) and immediately established a private law practice in downtown Dayton, Ohio across the street from the courts. I have been in the same office building for over 32 years! I also proudly served as a Magistrate in the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court from 1992 until 2000 for The Honorable Judge George Gounaris. During my 32 year career, I have focused my law practice on Divorce, Criminal Defense, OVI/DUI Defense, Traffic Law and Personal Injury cases so that I could become proficient in these areas and provide the best possible legal services. I received the Appointed Counsel Award from the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court for my representation of indigent defendants, and the Top 10 Attorney Award (for Ohio) from the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys. I have been interviewed by local and national news media, including The Associated Press, and had the distinct privilege of arguing in the Supreme Court of Ohio. Some of my cases set legal precedent, which means they impacted the status of the law in Ohio. I was invited into the prestigious National Trial Lawyers, Top 100, and Ohio Super Lawyers which is only attainable by a small percentage of attorneys in Ohio. I am rated "Distinguished" by Martindale Hubbell, and "Superb" by Avvo.com which is the highest rating for attorneys. I am rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau, and listed in Who's Who in American Law. I have earned the respect of my peers in the legal community, and have built long-lasting, professional relationships with judges, prosecutors, attorneys and other individuals that serve in our system of justice. My MISSION has always been, and will always be, to make sure my clients are treated fairly no matter their race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age or any other trait that sets them apart from others. I certainly have the experience and success that my clients need, and I am very happy to help them through difficult times.

James A. Dearie has been a practicing attorney since 1993. He has represented clients in civil, criminal, and traffic cases at all levels of the Ohio court system, including the Ohio Supreme Court. He is an active member of the Warren County Criminal Justice Board and the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He currently serves as a Member of the City Council of Lebanon, Ohio Jim was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1990, he graduated with honors from the University of Notre Dame, with a BA in Economics. In 1993, he graduated with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law. After graduating law school, Jim served a one-year clerkship with a U.S. District Court Judge in Montgomery, Alabama. He then served four years in the U.S. Army as a Captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Upon leaving the Army in 1999, Jim went into private practice, representing business and individual clients throughout southwestern Ohio. He currently serves on the executive committee of the Warren County Criminal Justice Board, and on the respective board of directors for the Elizabeth’s New Life Center and the Mary, Seat of Wisdom, High School Studies Group, Inc. "I built a successful law practice by ensuring that I am always available to answer my clients' questions about their cases. I am available during the business day, and clients who call my practice during nonbusiness hours will be forwarded to my cell phone so that I can be reached at all times. I am always happy to consult with potential new clients free of charge. One thing that differentiates me from other lawyers in my community is my four years of active service in the United States Army. While in the Army, I graduated from the Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and I represented countless soldiers at courts-martial and administrative separation boards at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. I am very involved in my community outside of my law practice. I am a member of the City Council of Lebanon, Ohio. I sit on the executive committee of the Warren County Criminal Justice Board. I am active in my local church, my local crisis pregnancy center, my children's homeschool group, and I coach many of my children's soccer teams. I still pay soccer myself at the Lebanon YMCA."