About the author

James Bell

James focuses his practice in the areas of criminal defense, attorneys discipline defense and health care law. James was one of the 2009 and 2010 Vice Presidents of the Indianapolis Bar Association and was the 2009 chair of the Indianapolis Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section. James was also a two term Chairman of the Criminal Justice Section of the Indiana State Bar Association. As a Marion County Public Defender, he represented clients in numerous jury and bench trials. James also represents clients in juvenile delinquency, appeals and post-conviction proceedings. James is a frequent speaker on ethics, trial practice and criminal procedure at seminars. In 2006, he was named a Distinguished Fellow of the Indianapolis Bar Association and was one of the individuals awarded the 2006 IBA’s President’s Award for Service to the Association. James is a member of the Indiana Assessment Team of the American Bar Association’s Death Penalty Moratorium Implementation Project and the Marion County Local Rules Advisory Committee. He teaches Criminal Procedure for the Indianapolis Bar Association’s Bar Exam Review. Contact James

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Posts by James Bell

New Law Restricts Access to Criminal Records

Bingham McHale attorney Alex Gude and I recently authored an article for The Indiana Lawyer on a new law resulting from the latest Indiana General Assembly session that could help non-violent offenders shield some of their conviction records from the public and potential employers. A preview is below. Visit The Indiana Lawyer website for the full article. There is a misconception among even the most educated of criminal clients that arrests, charges and convictions disappear off of one’s Indiana criminal record after…

Lawyer Advertising: The Truth May Not Set You Free

Bingham McHale summer associate Meghan Pitcher and I recently authored an article  for The Indiana Lawyer on Indiana’s new advertising rules and how they apply to legal services. A preview is below. Visit The Indiana Lawyer web site for the full article. Indiana’s new advertising rules apply to more than just billboards and Yellow Page ads. Rule 7.2(a) of the Rules of Professional Conduct defines “advertising” as “any manner of communication partly or entirely intended or expected to promote the purchase or…

Money and Ethics: “Non-refundable” Fees

Bingham McHale partner Kevin McGoff and I recently authored this article on non-refundable fee arrangements for The Indiana Lawyer.  A preview is below.  Visit The Indiana Lawyer web site for the full article. It’s the beginning of a case and your client has agreed in writing to a $10,000 non-refundable retainer. You get to work. The case is messy. There are motions to prepare, witnesses to interview and your client is constantly calling for “updates.” Read the full…