James F. Anderson was born and raised in rural Western Pennsylvania, which continues to hold a very special place in his heart. His upbringing and family history has shaped his approach to the practice of law, which emphasizes forming personal connections with his clients, demystifying the legal system, and minimizing the chances of inter-familial conflict through clear planning and communication. He attended Gannon University in Erie Pennsylvania where he graduated summa cum laude with degrees in History and Political Science.

Following the completion of his undergraduate studies, James relocated to Virginia where he attended the George Mason University School of Law, where he focused his studies on estate planning and tax law. He earned his Juris Doctorate, and was admitted to the Virginia Bar, in 2008, and has been engaged in the practice of law ever since. In addition to Virginia, James is admitted to practice law in both Maryland and the District of Columbia. He regularly assists clients in all three jurisdictions with the creation of Estate Plans, and routinely assists people who have to navigate the challenges of Probate administration and the administration of Trusts. He also assists clients with Guardianship and Conservatorship matters in Virginia, including the relocation of existing Guardianship/Conservatorships from other states.

Giving back to the community and sharing valuable legal information with members of the public has always been an important component of James’ legal practice. While at George Mason, James participated in the Legal Clinic for Assistance to Service Members and Veterans; assisting active duty service members with a variety of legal issues, and he continued to assist the Legal Clinic by acting as a supervising attorney for several years after his graduation. James also volunteered his time in years past to the Wills for Heroes program when they were held in Prince William, Fauquier, and Arlington Counties, which provided free estate planning services to local police, firefighters, and other first responders.

Lastly, in an effort to make sure that good information about Wills, Powers of Attorney, Medical Directives, Trusts, Probate, and Probate avoidance are more widely available to the Northern Virginia community at large, James, from the very beginning of his time in practice, has given presentations on Estate Planning to numerous churches, community groups and organizations, financial planners, and the members of the general public.

Bar Admissions

• Virginia
• District of Columbia
• Maryland

Bar Associations

• Virginia State Bar
• District of Columbia Bar
• Maryland State Bar
• Arlington County Bar Association, Co-Chair of the Trusts & Estates Section
• McLean Estate Planning Council

Awards

• Arlington Magazine Top Lawyer, Trusts & Estates, 2025
• Arlington Magazine Top Lawyer, Trusts & Estates, 2024
• Arlington Magazine Top Lawyer, Trusts & Estates, 2019

Articles

• What Will Your Loved Ones Need to Know? Preparing a Letter of Instruction, October 30, 2020
• Integrating Disclaimers into Bypass/Tax Shelter Trust Provisions in 2018 and Beyond, February 28, 2018
• Standby Guardians for Minors, April 14, 2020