Comprehensive Elder Law Services Addressing a Full Range of Legal Issues
Biography
James Baker joined Sikov and Love, P.A. as an associate attorney in 2021. He previously worked as an Assistant Public Defender for the Allegheny County Office of the Public Defender, where he represented clients from preliminary hearings before local magistrates to non-jury and jury trials in the Court of Common Pleas. Mr. Baker has also argued cases on appeal all the way to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. His experience in court is invaluable to clients who are pursuing guardianships or involved in will contests.
Mr. Baker follows a client-centered approach, one that is responsive to his clients and their individual needs. He believes that a client who is informed about his legal options is in the best position to make the decisions suited to their situation. He serves his clients in preparing their Wills as well as Financial and Health Care Powers of Attorney and Living Wills. Mr. Baker advises his clients on long-term care and asset protection, which provides comfort and peace of mind to his clients and their families.
Mr. Baker grew up in Indiana, Pennsylvania and studied Mathematics and History at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He then attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he graduated with a concentration in tax law in 2016 and earned the distinction of serving on Law Review. Mr. Baker is active in the Young Lawyers Division to the Allegheny County Bar Association and the Hay-Sell Inn of Court. He volunteers his time on the Board of the Community for Pittsburgh Ultimate.
Published Works
- Thought Crimes in the Era of Domestic Extremism, Point of Law, Young Lawyers Division to the Allegheny County Bar Association, Spring, 2021
- One Layman's Folly is Another Layman's Fallacy, Point of Law, Young Lawyers Division to the Allegheny County Bar Association, Spring, 2019
- Old Dogs Should Learn New Tricks, Point of Law, Young Lawyers Division to the Allegheny County Bar Association, Winter, 2018
- Corporate Personhood: Journey into the Unknown, 77 Pitt L. Rev. 259, Law Review, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Junior Articles Editor, Research Editor, 2015
- Wrote and orally defended “A Cantorian Set History,” a semester-long independent research paper on the development of abstract mathematics in Germany during the 19th century, Senior Thesis, Allegheny College, 2013
Classes & Seminars
- Fitting Fido into Public Places (CLE)
- Dispositive Motions in Federal Court: Do I File? Why and How?
- Criminal Law for the Non-Criminal Attorney (CLE)
- Civil Rights Law for the Non-Civil Rights Attorney
- Planned Labor and Employment Law for the Non-Labor and Employment Attorney (CLE)
- Tough Talks Town Hall
- Estates and Trusts for the Non-Estates and Trusts Lawyer (CLE)
Education
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D. – 2016, cum laude, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Honors: William H. Eckert Prize, Distinguished Public Interest Scholar Nominee, University of Pittsburgh Law School Alumni Association Scholarship, Dean’s Scholarship
- Major: Tax Law Concentration
- Allegheny College, B.S., Mathematics and B.A., History – 2013, magna cum laude, Meadville, Pennsylvania
- Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Pi Mu Epsilon (Mathematics), Phi Alpha Theta (History), Distinguished Alden Scholar, Ethyl Moore Miller Memorial Scholarship, Morten J. Luvaas Scholarship
Bar Admissions
- Pennsylvania
Professional Associations
- Allegheny County Bar Association
- Young Lawyer's Division Treasurer, 2021 to 2022
- YLD Council, 2020 to 2021
- YLD Bar Leadership Initiative
- YLD Esquire Open Planning Committee
- YLD Anti-Racism Committee Chair
- YLD Education Committee Co-Chair
Pro-Bono Activities
- Community for Pittsburgh Ultimate Board
- Voter Protection Steering Committee
- Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Inn of Court (Hay-Sell Chapter)
- World Refugee Day Planning Committee
Past Positions
- Allegheny County Office of the Public Defender, Assistant Public Defender, 2017 to 2021
- Healey & Hornack, P.C., Attorney, 2016 to 2017
- Dan Bricmont, Attorney at Law, Contract Attorney, 2017
- United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Chambers of Judge David Cercone, Clerk Intern, 2015