After service in the Peace Corps, James Nolan attended law school at George Washington University. During his last year of law school, he served as law clerk to Judge John P. Moore of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland. After graduation, he served in the same capacity for Judge William H. McCullough of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland.

James was admitted to practice in January 1972 and the concentration of his practice has been litigation. Initially, his practice was general, including civil and criminal matters. The emphasis of his practice for many years has been family law and has included work in the trial and appellate courts of Maryland and the District of Columbia. James is also a trained mediator. He was a partner in the law firm of Sachs, Greenbaum & Taylor and then at Witt & Nolan until January 2004.