James Trotter is an attorney with the law firm of CR Legal Team, LLP. Having previously worked as a plaintiff’s attorney in California with a focus on catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases, including truck and auto collisions, product defects, dangerous conditions of public roadway and premises liability, he joined CR Legal Team in June of 2024.
After his graduation from Loyola Law School in May 2018, James was admitted to the California Bar in 2018, the Nevada Bar in 2019, the North Carolina Bar in 2024, and the South Carolina Bar in 2025. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of California (2019), the Middle District of North Carolina (2024), and the Western District of North Carolina (2025). James has lectured at Loyola Law School, Pepperdine University Law School, and at legal conferences including the Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL) and Panish Shea Boyle Ravipudi (PSBR) Live. His article, "Winning or Losing Your Case in a Minute: Cause Challenges," was published in the January 2023 edition of The Advocate.
At his previous law firm, James was part of the trial team for several large verdicts in California, including a $23,720,996 bench trial verdict to a Southern California man and his wife after the man suffered a lower leg amputation as a result of being struck by a 28-foot utility truck while riding his motorcycle in Los Angeles County in January 2021, and a $2,400,000 jury trial verdict to a Northern California minor after his father was killed by an inattentive driver in Stanislaus County in December 2021.
James received his Bachelor of History in the Program of Liberal Studies from the University of Notre Dame in 2012. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, crosswords, going to the beach, and listening to Neil Young, with his wife and daughter.
Education
- University of Notre Dame, Bachelors in History and Program of Liberal Studies
- Loyola Law School, Juris Doctorate
Admissions & Memberships
- California – 2018
- Middle District of California – 2019
- Nevada – 2019
- North Carolina – 2024
- Middle District of North Carolina – 2024
- Western District of North Carolina – 2025
- South Carolina – 2025
Awards & Honors
- Southern California Super Lawyers: Rising Stars 2021-2023
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America 2023
Publications
- Winning or Losing Your Case in Minutes: Cause Challenges, The Advocate, January 2023
