James A. Yance

Jim Yance, a lifelong resident of Mobile and Baldwin counties, graduated from the University of South Alabama in 1970 and then attended the University of Alabama School of Law, receiving his Juris Doctorate degree in 1973. He entered private practice with the firm of Cunningham, Bounds and Byrd, which later became Cunningham, Bounds, Yance, Crowder and Brown, and remained with the firm for 30 years. He later assumed “of counsel” status.

In 1975 he was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association and became the youngest president in the history of the organization in 1982 at the age of 35. In 1983 he was elected to the Board of Governors of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He was inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers in 1985 at the age of 39. He was selected as an advocate by the American Board of Trial Advocates in 1992, is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and was certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Civil Trial Specialist. He served as president of the Mobile Bar Association in 2004. He has been listed in the national publication “The Best Lawyers in America” for many years and Chambers’ “Best Lawyers for Business.” He is included in the “Alabama Super Lawyers” list.

Yance has served his community and state in many civic and charitable activities including as chair pro tempore of the USA Board of Trustees and as a board member or chairman of the State of Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust, the University of Alabama Law School Foundation, the University of Alabama Law School Farrah Law Society, the Board of Alabama Trial Lawyers for Children, the Corporate Foundation for Children, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest Alabama, the Moorer YMCA, the Southwest Alabama YMCA, and the Alabama Wildlife Federation. Yance has coached youth sports in both Mobile and Baldwin counties.