James O’Brien is a lawyer and Founder of O’Brien Law LLC, a law firm in Washington, DC. specializing in employment law and business immigration. He graduated in 1987 from Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America. He is a member of the Bar of the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia, the Court of Appeals of Maryland, and the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

James says that the best part of running a small business is that he has, “given employment to many people, thus helping each of them in different ways along their own career paths.”

James grew up in New Jersey, as one of eight children. As a youth, he attended public schools, played every sport imaginable, and rode his bike everywhere. Most importantly though, his parents imparted lessons of “fairness, equality and charity,” he says, “My parents went through some very lean times themselves, with all those children to feed and clothe…in a house of eight children, there were plenty of chores, and we all had to help. And even though my parents had to manage on a thin budget and a crowded home, they still found room to invite inner city children to live with us for several weeks over the summers, through the Fresh Air program.”

James was introduced to Running Strong by law school classmates and has served on the Running Strong Board of Directors every year since it began.

Today, James remains committed to Running Strong’s mission and leads its programs, staff, and volunteers with care, consideration, and a desire to help others.