James Gardner
A Chance to Breathe:
Stories from a 1918 Road Trip
James Gardner was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. He received his B.A. from The Ohio State University and his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University. A practicing lawyer for more than thirty years, Jim is an avid history buff and a vagabond at heart. Married, with two grown children, A Chance to Breathe is his first book.
My
Story
For more than 30 years, Jim Gardner has been helping Ohio's workers get the results they rightfully deserve. Over this time, he has assisted clients in tens of thousands of hearings before the Industrial Commission and has been by their side in hundreds of court cases.
Serving as both an advocate and counselor, he has helped his clients navigate the complicated workers' compensation system, finding the best course forward to help them return to the lives they lived before they were injured. He prides himself on getting to know each client personally, treating each person, injury, and claim as unique. Jim has never been a fan of "assembly-line" law firms or their "cookie-cutter" approaches. As a result, Gardner Law has successfully helped thousands of workers in their personal journey to recovery, and, along the way, helped them receive a considerable amount of compensation.
Besides his extensive expertise in helping Ohio workers, Jim also brings experience from all sides of the court. His experience includes working in the Office of the Attorney General for the State of Washington and for a major defense firm representing employers in workers' compensation matters. As a result, this gives Jim insight into state agencies and how they make decisions. It also allows him to share with clients the decision-making process that goes on with Ohio employers and is an important tool in finding meaningful resolutions.
Jim is a graduate of The Ohio State University, received his law degree from Case Western Reserve, and studied law at Oxford University in England. He is licensed to practice law in Ohio and Texas and is a member of the Akron Bar Association and the Ohio Bar Association.
When he's not helping clients resolve their legal issues, Jim enjoys spending time with his family. If you ever reach his voicemail, he's probably in court or at a hearing. If not, he's most likely on the road traveling, writing another book, or hiking in the countryside. He is also a passionate advocate for people with mental and physical disabilities and volunteers for Miracle League Baseball, the Upside of Downs, and the Special Olympics. He would love the opportunity to grab a cup of coffee and tell you more about these worthy causes and learn about your passions as well!
Education:
JD, Case Western Reserve 1991
BA, Ohio State University 1987
Credentials
Akron Bar Association
Ohio State Bar Association
Named Top Super Lawyer in Ohio 2018-2023
Licensed to practice law in Ohio and Texas