James B. Winston Law Office

Attorney James Winston is a Northampton native and a graduate of Western New England University and Western New England University School of Law. While in law school, Jim received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award, for Advanced Topics in Evidence.

James B. Winston PhotoHe was a former legal intern for the Honorable Kenneth Neiman, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court. Jim also has the experience of internships with both the Northwestern District Attorney's Office, and the Attorney General's Office, in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Attorney Winston has also served as a law clerk during a one-year clerkship for the Probate and Family Court of Massachusetts, working in the Hampshire, Hampden, Berkshire and Franklin Probate and Family Courts. The clerkship provided the unique opportunity to work for all of the Probate and Family justices in western Massachusetts, which gave a behind-the scenes look of how the different justices operate their courthouses.

Attorney Winston is licensed to practice law in both the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut. He is admitted to practice law in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, as well as the U.S. District Court of Connecticut. Additionally, he is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, as well as the United States Supreme Court.

Jim is the current President of the Hampshire County Bar Association, which has over 250 attorneys and was established in 1878. Jim is also a member of the Franklin County Bar Association, Hamden County Bar Association, Massachusetts Bar Association as well as the Massachusetts Employment Lawyers Association and the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives.

In 2018 Jim received the Massachusetts Bar Association's Community Service award at the annual Hampshire County Bar Association dinner. In 2005, Attorney Winston was honored by the Hampden County Bar Association for meritorious service in support of victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. This honor stemmed from Jim's work on behalf of the Trial Lawyers Care Victim Compensation Fund.

Additionally, Jim has a background in alternative dispute resolution, having completed a 30-hour mediation training for attorneys through Dispute Resolution Services, and has successfully served as a conciliator in both the Hampden and Hampshire Probate and Family Courts.

Jim enjoys teaching, and he is a former adjunct professor in the School of Business at Western New England University, where he teaches Business Law and Employment Law. Jim also has taught a course in Sports Law at Elms College. Additionally, Jim serves as a judge in the annual high school Mock Court competition, as well as a judge of oral arguments at the Western New England University School of Law.

Attorney Winston serves on the Board of Directors for the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Western Massachusetts (NAMI). He also is on the City of Northampton's Commission on Disability. And he is on the Executive Committee of the Hampshire County Bar Association and is the President of the Walter Rabbit Maranville Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR).

Attorney Winston's practice is located in the heart of downtown Northampton, at 142 Main Street, above the Bank of America, right next to Thornes Marketplace.