James Robert Schmillen
About James
Biography
JAMES R. SCHMILLEN, an Arizona native, obtained his Bachelor of Science degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Arizona in 1998, with a double major in Accounting and Finance. While at the University of Arizona, Jim was named to the Dean’s List, was a member of the University of Arizona Honors Program, and served as a Teaching Assistant for multiple tax law courses. He received his J.D. in 2001 from the Arizona State University College of Law, graduating cum laude. During law school, Jim was a Pedrick Scholar, recipient of the CALI Award for Academic Excellence, and earned Honors in Legal Method and Writing. Jim was also a Legal Method and Writing Teaching Assistant and a member of the Arizona State Law Journal. Jim was honored with the Arizona State University College of Law Pro Bono Distinction for his service as President of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program, assisting in the preparation of hundreds of tax returns for low income taxpayers.
Jim began practicing law at a complex commercial litigation law firm in 1998. After three years in private practice, Jim took a position as in-house counsel and executive for a private, family owned group of companies that employed up to 2,200 individuals and provided construction related products and services throughout Arizona and Nevada. While serving in this position, Jim held a leadership role as well as having responsibility for all aspects of corporate representation. Jim was able to practice family law on a pro bono basis, helping individuals that could not afford representation. After serving in this role for nearly seven years, Jim had the opportunity to pursue his dream of opening his own law firm in 2011. Jim primarily focuses his practice on family law and civil litigation. Jim is a regular volunteer with Family Legal Assistance Program (FLAP) and was awarded Attorney of the Month for February 2015 through the Volunteer Lawyers Program and designated as a 2015 Top Pro Bono Attorney in Arizona by the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education. Jim was elected to the Board of Directors for the Maricopa County Bar Association Family Law Section in 2016.
Aside from his professional endeavors, Jim enjoys being active and spends his free time doing anything that involves being outdoors – including golfing, scuba diving, snow skiing/snowboarding, hiking, trail riding, boating, camping, fishing and travelling.
Practice Areas
2
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
Cost
Always
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Arizona for 24 years
State: Arizona
Acquired: 2001
No misconduct found
Location
Schmillen Law Firm PLLC
8140 E Cactus Rd Ste 720 B, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260-5265
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James Robert Schmillen's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
23 Client Reviews
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 reviews | Alimony
Posted by Jennifer | August 27, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Alimony
Jim is wonderful
Jim (James) handled my divorce and custody situation for me recently. Him and his team were compassionate, caring, loyal and hard working with my case. I was an emotional disaster when I came into the firm in the beginning due to being a stay at home mom for 11 years and a ex that was out to destroy ...
Posted by Anastasia | July 13, 2015 | Alimony
Greatest Lawyer EVER!!
I hired Mr. Schmillen in August 2012 to handle what I thought was an easy divorce. However, my husband made it extremely difficult. I was very fortunate to have Jim as my attorney because he wouldn't allow my husband to run up my fees or take advantage of me. Thanks to his brilliance and expert kno...
James Robert Schmillen's Lawyer Endorsements
"James is an absolute professional. He is very knowledgeable and advocates well for his clients. James is responsive and and very personable. I look forward to handling cases with him in the future."
"Mr. Schmillen is a solid litigation attorney with years of experience and a talent for persuasive argument. I endorse this lawyer."
"I had the pleasure of working alongside James on a complex family matter. It is evident to me that James is very passionate about his clients and strives to only provide exceptional service, which includes, from my observation, compassionate, personable and clear communication with his clients and opposing parties, detailed and thorough legal reasoning and a focused skilled approach with his legal strategy - all of which aids a client tremendously if not becomes primarily responsible for the client's success. I highly recommend James as a family lawyer and whenever I have a conflict, he's one of the very first I consider to refer a case to."
"Jim is an excellent advocate for his clients. He's aggressive and an incredible writer."
"I have known Jim for over 15 years and have had the pleasure to work with him on many occasions. Jim is smart, a talented advocate, proactive, practical, hard-working and truly cares about his clients. I highly endorse Jim for any litigation matter."
"Mr. Schmillen is an excellent attorney that appears to have a strong appreciation for his client's needs, but able to remain reasonable and problem focused. I strongly endorse Mr. Schmillen as a family law attorney. Additionally, I have found Mr. Schmillen to be a good person that maintains a high ethical standard."
"Jim and I met as opposing counsel on a highly contentious divorce case. I found Jim to not only be a great advocate for his client, but also knowledgeable and skilled in financial analysis. I would highly recommend him to any potential client, and frequently send him referrals when I cannot assist a client."
"I endorse this lawyer. I have known Jim for several years, both as a friend and as opposing counsel. He is compassionate and hard working, and consistently goes above and beyond for his clients. He is well respected by his peers and by the bench, which is a rare things in the legal field."
"I have found Jim to be the consummate professional, incredibly trustworthy, and very knowledgeable in the areas of civil and family law. Jim is an experienced advocate who works hard to achieve resolution while never compromising his client's interests. I recommend Jim without hesitation."
Family lawyer
Divorce and separation lawyer
Family lawyer
Family lawyer
Litigation lawyer
Family lawyer
Marriage and prenuptials lawyer
Family lawyer
Divorce and separation lawyer
Family lawyer
Experience
Honors
2020
AV Preeminnent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell®
2015
Attorney of the Month Award, Volunteer Lawyers Program of Arizona
2015
Top Pro Bono Attorneys In Arizona, Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education
Work Experience
2011 - Present
Owner/Attorney, Schmillen Law Firm/Mouser & Schmillen
2015 - 2015
Adjunct Professor, Arizona Summit Law School
2004 - 2011
General Counsel, Younger Brothers Companies
2001 - 2004
Associate, Cohen Kennedy Dowd & Quigley
Associations
2016 - Present
MCBA Family Law SectionBoard Member
2011 - Present
Maricopa County Bar Association
2001 - Present
State Bar of Arizona
Education
2001
JD - Juris Doctor
1998
Bachelor of Science in Business Adminstration,
Speaking Engagements
2015
Ethics in Family Law
Languages
English