David James was called to the Bar in May of 2006 after practising as a Solicitor from February 2002. David initially commenced his private practice in Crime and Family Law but chose to concentrate on all aspects of Criminal Law, Quasi-Criminal, Statutory Prosecutions and Enquiries.

Prior to his admission as a Legal Practitioner Mr. James spent 20 years with the Queensland Police Service but for a short period in 1994 with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Throughout his Police service he worked as an investigator with a variety of specialist squads within the Metropolitan Criminal Investigation Branch, Crime Operations Command and the Sunshine Coast CIB, obtaining the rank of Detective Sergeant. In addition to these units, David was selected by the Fitzgerald Commission of Inquiry and the Commissioner’s Office to perform duties at the Licensing Branch (Vice, Gaming and Liquor Licensing Squad) during such Commission of Inquiry.

Throughout Mr. James’ Criminal Justice career he has worked in close liaison with members of the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (Qld), Commonwealth Prosecutions, Military Police, National Crime Authority (ACC), Crime & Misconduct Commission (formerly CJC) and other Statutory Investigative and enforcement bodies.

Whist working at the State Drug Squad and the Sunshine Coast CIB Mr James performed supervisory roles over-viewing the conduct of investigations (including covert operations) and prosecutions in relation to numerous serious criminal matters including Murder, Manslaughter Robbery, Rape, Money Laundering and Drug Trafficking.

Mr. James prosecutes for the Queensland Government’s Legal Prosecutions Services in relation to Workplace Prosecutions and Corrective Services as to probation and parole breaches.

Since entering private practice Mr. James has focused on Criminal Defence.

Recently Mr. James has been involved in the successful defence of matters involving charges of Manslaughter, Rape, Serious Assaults and a variety of other Criminal and Quasi-Criminal matters. In addition to these defended prosecutions Mr. James appears at Sentences where he seeks to obtain positive outcomes by way of negotiated pleas to a range of offences from Traffic Applications in the Magistrates Court to Serious Criminal Offences before the Supreme and District Courts.

In addition to the Sunshine Coast, Cooloola Coast and Fraser Coast Mr. James regularly appears in Brisbane & the Gold Coast.