BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – October 8, 2010 – James F. Walsh, a partner with RumbergerKirk, was recently elected President of the Alabama Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Walsh will serve a two-year term.

NAMI Alabama is an organization comprised of local support and advocacy groups throughout the state dedicated to improving the quality of life for persons with a mental illness in Alabama.

“The number of such groups is growing rapidly as families become more determined to improve treatment and care for people diagnosed with a mental illness,” said Walsh. “The organization’s goals are to provide information, support, and a sense of belonging to persons with serious mental illness and their families.” The organization also advocates for nondiscriminatory and equitable federal, state, and corporate policies. 

NAMI also supports research into the causes, symptoms, and treatments for severe brain disorders and strives to eliminate the pervasive stigma toward persons affected by serious mental illness.

Walsh focuses his legal practice in the areas of commercial litigation and product liability defense.  His practice also includes representing clients in matters involving medical and mental health issues, claims filed under the Federal Torts Claim Act, criminal defense and military law matters.

Outside of his litigation practice, Walsh is an active member of the Birmingham community. Earlier this year, Governor Bob Riley appointed him to the Alabama Family Trust (AFT) Board of Directors on behalf of residents who have mental and developmental disabilities as well as physical impairments.  He is a member of the State Executive Board of NAMI and serves on the Birmingham Board of the American Diabetes Association.  An active participant in scouting for 25 years, he has served in various positions over the years including that of Scoutmaster for 12 years. 

Within the legal community, Walsh has served on the Grievance Committee of the Birmingham Bar Association as well as its Fee Arbitration Committee.  At the state level, he is a past state chairman of the Military Law Section of the Alabama Bar Association.

Walsh earned his juris doctor, cum laude, from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, in 1976.  He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point from which he received a bachelor of science degree in 1968.

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RumbergerKirk provides litigation and counseling services in a wide range of civil practice areas including products liability, commercial litigation, intellectual property, environmental, employment, insurance, professional liability, health care and administrative law. Offices are located in Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Tallahassee and Birmingham, Alabama.