James D. DeWitt
Shareholder
Jim grew up in Fairbanks and has practiced law in Alaska since graduating in 1975 from Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, Illinois. Jim has worked at Guess & Rudd since 1986. He is the co-author of the Volunteer Legal Handbook through nine editions and for fifteen years chaired the faculty of the Biennial Nonprofit Law courses sponsored by the Alaska Bar Association. He was a member of the board of directors of United Way of the Tanana Valley for more than twenty years, and was its president in 1993. He is an avid birder and bird photographer. Jim is married to environmental consultant Nancy DeWitt, the former executive director of the Alaska Bird Observatory.
Areas of Practice
- 40% Municipal Law
- 40% Bankruptcy Law
- 20% Commercial Law
Litigation Percentage
- 5% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
- Alaska, 1976
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1977
- U.S. District Court District of Alaska, 1976
Education
- Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago, Illinois
- J.D.
- University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
- B.S. (Cum Laude) - 1972
- Honors: Dean's List
- Major: Communication Theory
Published Works
- Volunteer Legal Handbook
Representative Cases
Representative Clients
- Lake and Peninsula Borough
- City of Delta Junction
- Fairbanks North Star Borough School District
- Interior Community Health Center
- Denali State Bank
- Larry D. Compton, Bankruptcy Trustee
References
- Available upon request
Classes/Seminars
- Faculty Chair, Biennial Nonprofit Seminar, Alaska Bar Association, 1996 - 2006
- Lecturer, Business Law, University of Alaska, 1978 - 1983
Honors and Awards
- Alaska Bar Board of Governors' Award for Distinguished Service, 1999 - Present
- AkBA Distinguished Service Award Winner, 1999 - Present
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Alaska Bar Association, 1976 - Present
Past Employment Positions
- Birch, Jermain, Horton & Bittner, Associate, 1975 - 1977
- Call, DeWitt, Barrett & Burbank, Shareholder, 1977 - 1983
- Law Offices of James D. DeWitt, 1983 - 1986
Pro Bono Activities
- Author, Volunteer Legal Handbook, 1985 - Present
- Lecturer, Risk Management for Nonprofit Organizations, 1985 - Present
- Member, Alaska Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Committee, 1992-2011 (Chair, 2004-2011)
- Member, Board of Directors, United Way of the Tanana Valley, 1984-1999, 2001-2008 (President, 1992-1993)
- Member, Alaska Conservation Foundation Board of Trustees, 2006 - present
