O’Melia V. James, Esq
Of Counsel
Ms. James is an innovative and successful attorney, highly-effective at
developing case strategies. Throughout her career, she has thrived in
dynamic environments and quickly adapted to the ever-changing
demands of the legal field. She is very detail-oriented, conscientious, and
organized with 32+ years of experience in achieving favorable
outcomes in court cases. As a litigator, she is well versed in trial
preparation, research, and drafting legal documents. Ms. James has tackled
cases with tenacity and an analytical mindset. She is adept at
dispensing with extraneous information and developing the true issue.
Education
University of Maryland School of Law, Baltimore, Maryland, Juris Doctorate awarded in 1981
Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology awarded in 1978
Baltimore City Public Schools, Baltimore, Maryland, Edmondson High School, 1974
Bar Admissions
Earned admission to the Maryland Bar, May 1982
Experience
- Office of the Public Defender, Baltimore and Bel Air, Maryland
Staff Attorney, 1990 to 2017 - Senior Juvenile Attorney Harford County Juvenile Court — 1997 to present
- Baltimore City & Baltimore County Trial Attorney — 1992 to 1997
- Baltimore City Parents Advocate Attorney — 1990 to 1992
- State of Maryland Staff Attorney, 1982 to 1990
Community Involvement
Board Member, Ashland Head Start Center, Baltimore, MD
– Board Member, Ashland Head Start Center, Baltimore, MD1991-1994
– Baltimore City Department of Social Services, Foster/Adoptive
Mother, 1995 to present
– Harford Community College, Member of Paralegal Advisory
Board, 1999 to 2009
– Greater Bel Air/Forest Hill Community Council Member,
2000 to 2002
– Local Management Board, Harford County, 2000 to present
– Quality Council for Villa Maria Continuum, Timonium, MD
– 2007 to 2009
– Parent Support Group Facilitator for Catholic Charities,
Harford County, 2008 to 2010
– Juvenile Justice Council for Harford County Circuit Court,
2002 to present
– Co-Chair, Disproportionate Minority Contact Committee for
Juveniles, Harford County, 2002 to 2006
– Juvenile Drug Court, Harford County, 2003 to present
– Board Member, Friends of MANSEF, 2011 to present
– Board Member, Youth Commission for Harford County,
2012 to present
– Board Member, Office of Mental Health, Harford County,
2013 to present
– Member, New Hope Baptist Church, Harford County,
2005 to present
– Advisory Council to the Children’s Cabinet, May, 2014 to present
– Baltimore School of the Bible, student, October 2013 to present