I’m James Thomas, and I’m a lawyer who represents people who are charged with crimes.

I went to law school because I wanted to help people. In class, I was surrounded by other students who were there so they could land a job at a firm where they could sit at a desk and print money all day. I focused on becoming the lawyer who would specialize in helping people through dark and difficult times.

The day after I graduated with honors from Emory University School of Law, I accepted a job at the Law Office of the DeKalb County Public Defender, where I represented a high volume of clients charged with a wide variety of different offenses in metro Atlanta. My time as a public defender gave me an enormous amount of courtroom experience and a keen familiarity with the inner workings of the courts.

​Later on, my wife and I moved to Spartanburg, South Carolina, where I began my private practice. I was born and raised in Atlanta, but I now call Spartanburg home. My practice is focused on helping people in Spartanburg and throughout the Upstate, including Greenville, Greer, Gaffney, Union, and the surrounding areas.

I am still an active member of the Georgia Bar and the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and will take cases in Northeast Georgia, metro Atlanta, and the Athens-Clarke County area on a select basis. I am also licensed to practice in North Carolina, and will take cases in between Asheville and Charlotte on a select basis as well.

I still feel that criminal-defense practice is a service, not a job. This is a path that many who go to law school are not interested in pursuing. For me, it’s a calling, an honor, and a privilege.

I do this work because I enjoy it and I care about it. If I represent you, you can rest assured that I will take the necessary time to thoroughly investigate all legal options, work tirelessly toward the best possible result, and be available and responsive whenever any questions or developments about your case arise. I look forward to hearing from you and discussing how I can help you.