James “Jim” Schmillen, Esq.

James Schmillen

Attorney At Law

Jim Schmillen earned his B.S., magna cum laude, with a double major in both Accounting and Finance from the University of Arizona. He then attended the Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law at Arizona State University, where he graduated cum laude with their pro bono distinction.

Jim has been practicing law in Arizona since 2001. For his first three years of practice, he leveraged his business and accounting background working for a boutique complex commercial litigation firm. In 2004, Jim continued his practice in the area of business law serving as in-house counsel for a large construction company. In 2008, Jim discovered his passion for family law, and began transitioning his focus to family law. Since then, Jim has developed his knowledge and skill to represent clients needing successful family law solutions and personalized representation. His educational and professional background in business and finance are uncommon in family law, and uniquely positions him to understand and negotiate the complicated financial issues that can arise in family law cases. Jim is adept at litigating complex family law matters and has the understanding and experience to know what resources and techniques to employ to achieve a successful result.

Jim holds many professional designations and contributes to our community. He has been a member of the Arizona State Bar and is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Jim is a former president of VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program) and volunteered for FLAP (the Family Legal Assistance Program). Jim also served on the Board of Directors for the Maricopa County Bar Association Family Law Section.

In addition to Jim’s professional designations and community contributions, he has received numerous recognitions and awards that set him apart. In 2015, he was named ‘Attorney of the Month’ by the Volunteer Lawyers Program. That same year, he was also awarded by Avvo with the Client’s Choice Award; currently, Jim holds a ‘Superb’ rating through Avvo. In December of 2019, Jim was recognized by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2019 AV Prominent Peer Reviewed Attorney – a distinction held by only 10% of attorneys in the United States. Jim has held his Martindale AV rating since 2019.

Jim contributes to the family law legal community through his expertise and writing. He especially enjoys appellate work where he is able to advocate for important clarification and changes in family law.

Our Testimonials

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A solid law firm

I came to Schmillen Law Firm looking for legal advice and a lawyer to help me get through a very complicated situation. I had never been in the position I found myself in, and it was very scary. When I met with Jim Schmillen for a consultation, he truly listened to what I was looking for in a lawyer. He didn’t tell me what I wanted to hear on that first visit. But, he told me what I NEEDED to hear from a professional and legal perspective. He was very honest and upfront in his assessment and opinion of my situation. I felt I was getting a very clear vision of what direction he would go in if I hired him to represent me. He exceeded my expectations in every aspect of our legal journey together. He was confident, experienced, assertive, smart, and accessible. He has an amazing team and they work so fluidly together. I always felt like I was their priority client and they made sure I was informed of every decision that was made. He is dependable, trustworthy, hardworking, and loyal to his clients. Schmillen Law Firm is definitely a solid choice when it comes to legal counsel in Arizona. You will not be disappointed in the experience you have with them.

Erin

A BIG Thank You!!

During a very unpredictable and challenging time in my life, Jim provided outstanding dedication, legal knowledge and expertise when taking on my case. He calmed my fears and took the stress of my legal situation off my shoulders. His understanding of what I was up against was extremely comforting. I greatly appreciate Jim and his paralegal Rachel. Their hard work, integrity and willingness to go the extra mile truly paid off for me. I would not hesitate to recommend Jim to anyone looking for an amazing family law attorney.

Karla

I originally hired James to represent me in my divorce in 2005. There were many complicated issues involved, and the safety of my family and their future was at risk. I needed an attorney who would handle matters swiftly and effectively. James did that and so much more. His knowledge of the law and diligence to my case gave me the best possible outcome in a very difficult situation. He always got back to me quickly on any questions I had during and after the case. He explained everything clearly and was extremely patient during the times I was stressed. His calm but firm nature also came across in the courtroom with interactions I saw between him, the judge, and other attorneys. He was respectful in the courtroom, but at the same time, would push the issues and points that were most important to me and in the best interest of my young children…I would not hesitate to use James again in any legal matter I may have.

Elizabeth