Jim Nelson

Jim Nelson attended school at Oregon State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in speech communication with a focus on theories of persuasion. After graduating from College, he served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War as a military policeman.

Mr. Nelson attended law school at Willamette University School of Law. During law school, he was selected as the best oral advocate in the moot court competition by three judges from the Oregon Supreme Court. In law school, he also worked part-time as a faculty member of Willamette University teaching speech and debate to undergraduate students.

After law school, he honed his trial skills as a deputy district attorney, prosecuting numerous jury trial cases for nearly 3 years. In 1976, he joined in Albany, Oregon law firm, where he concentrated on trial practice for 11 years, working for insurance companies and major corporations defending personal injury claims, wrongful death claims, and defective product claims.

In 1991, he decided to limit his representation to individuals and consumers and quit representing insurance companies. Over his career, Mr. Nelson has successfully tried hundreds of jury trials and helped his clients successfully settle thousands of personal injury claims. Mr. Nelson’s former experience working for insurance companies gives him unique skills in representing individuals with insurance claims.

Mr. Nelson has been called on frequently to teach other lawyers trial skills. He is a frequent lecturer for the Oregon trial lawyers Association. He has taught a number of classes for the Oregon State Bar Association teaching lawyers litigation skills.