Meet Attorney James E. Schroeder

Jim Schroeder brings a rare combination of legal skill, entrepreneurial experience, and deep community roots to every client he serves. Originally from Southern New Jersey, Jim moved to Brown County, Ohio in 1995 to pastor the Decatur and Mount Olivet Churches on the eastern end of the county. After marrying Amanda Arn, the couple returned to New Jersey, where Jim led churches and later planted a new congregation near Medford. He went on to serve three years in the administration of Circleville Bible College (now Ohio Christian University) before returning to law school — a path that eventually brought him and his family back home to Ohio.

Real Estate and Business Law

Over the past seventeen years, Jim has handled hundreds of commercial and residential real estate transactions, including sales exceeding a million dollars. He is a licensed realtor in both New Jersey and Ohio, giving him a practical, on-the-ground perspective that few attorneys can offer their clients. That same hands-on approach carries into his business practice: as managing partner of an auto repair garage in New Jersey, Jim understands firsthand what it takes to run and grow a company. He puts that experience to work for the small and mid-sized businesses he represents, helping many clients scale from “a guy and a truck” or “a woman with a great idea” into companies with employees, systems, and lasting stability.

Municipal and Government Law

Jim has also built a strong reputation in municipal government law. He has served as city attorney for a municipality of over 30,000 residents, as county counsel in various roles, and as general counsel and executive director for water and sewer authorities serving a large suburban New Jersey township — experience that gives him unique insight into regulatory compliance, public administration, and local government operations.

Community and Nonprofit Leadership

Beyond the courtroom and closing table, Jim is deeply committed to community service. He has served as President of the Board of Steered Straight, the nation’s leading organization providing school assembly programs and resources to combat drug addiction and vaping, and as Executive Director of the Pleasantville, New Jersey Police Foundation, supporting local law enforcement and fostering positive relationships between police and the community. Jim has also helped revitalize several churches and was the founding pastor of Crossroads Community Church in Indian Mills, New Jersey. His specialty is establishing and relaunching/refocusing organizations.

Faith and Local Leadership

A former Mayor of Sardinia, Ohio, Jim remains active in local, state, and national politics. Since 2020, he has served as pastor of Sardinia Hope Church, where he and his family continue to serve the community they call home.

His Passion

Jim’s passion is using his legal knowledge to help people achieve their goals. He loves connecting people with the right resources, building relationships, and putting the proper legal foundations in place for success — in life, in business, and in service to others.