James A. Rocco III

James’ practice consists primarily of civil cases, with an emphasis on family law and personal injury matters. While the constant goal of his practice is to obtain fair and equitable settlements, he is no stranger in the Courtroom. James, not only appears in Court in a regular basis, he successfully obtained a $1,400,000 jury verdict for a client as a result of injuries sustained in a work-related injury. James has literally tried thousands of cases in both state and federal courts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey since he started practicing law in 1995.

Of Distinction

From 2015 through 2019, James served as President of the Nicholas J. Cipriani American Family Law Inn of Court, which comprises of a limited number of lawyers and judges whose primary practice consists of handling family law matters in Philadelphia County and the surrounding counties.  After serving four terms as President, the longest any member has served in that position, James stepped down but remains on the Inn’s Executive Committee.

In 2016, James was nominated by the Honorable Elizabeth Jackson of Philadelphia Family Court and was selected and received the 2016 Pro Bono Pubico Award for the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, Domestic Relations Branch.  The Domestic Relations Branch has varied responsibilities in responding to complaints and petitions that can be broadly categorized under: Child and Spousal Support, Divorce, Child Custody, and Domestic Violence.  James is regularly asked and is appointed as Guardian Ad Litem by the Judges of Philadelphia Family Court in high conflict and complex custody matters.

On December 3, 2015, James was honored by the Legal Clinic for the Disabled (LCD) with their individual White Hat Award for his consistent and continued help to mentor LCD attorneys. James has provided guidance on court filings, answered questions on substantive family law issues, discussed case strategy and even offered to meet LCD staff in court. It is through the support of individuals like James that LCD is able to carry out its mission of providing high-quality legal services to low-income people with disabilities.

On October 27, 2015, James had the honor of mentoring non-family law attorneys from law firm of Cozen O’Connor and ACE Insurance Company during Philly VIP’s divorce clinic for low income individuals looking to file their own divorce in Philadelphia.

In addition to being previously named as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer Rising Star, James has been honored to serve in a number of elected positions within a variety of legal associations.  James is likewise regularly asked to be a guest lecturer for continuing legal education seminars.

Memberships & Elected Positions

• Philadelphia Bar Association:
  • Executive Committee Member, Family Law Section of Philadelphia Bar Association, 2010-2014
  • Chair, Family Law Section of Philadelphia Bar Association, 2009
  • Member, Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention, 2009
  • Vice-Chair, Family Law Section of Philadelphia Bar Association, 2008
  • Treasurer, Family Law Section of Philadelphia Bar Association, 2007
  • Secretary, Family Law Section of Philadelphia Bar Association, 2006
  • Executive Committee Member, Family Law Section of Philadelphia Bar Association, 2004-2005
• Pennsylvania Bar Association:
  • Delegate, PBA House of Delegates, 2009-2017
• Nicholas J. Cipriani American Family Inn of Court:
  • President, 2015 -2019
  • Master and Executive Committee Member, 2007-present
• Philadelphia V.I.P.’s Family Law Advisory Council Member, 2009-present
• The Justinian Society of Philadelphia, 2004-2011

Lectures and Speaking Engagements

• Divorce Practice in Philadelphia
  Philadelphia VIP, 2012 – 2019
• Support: Preserving Income and Stabilizing Families
  Philadelphia VIP, 2019
• Protection from Abuse Practice and Procedure in the First Judicial District: Contemporary Challenges Faced by Judges, Lawyers and Litigants
  Philadelphia Bar Association Annual Bench Bar Conference, 2018
• Philadelphia County Domestic Relations Practice (Authored Paternity Chapter & Updated Support Chapter)
  20th Edition, Philadelphia Bar Institute, 2017
• As Family Court Judges See It: Top Mistakes Attorneys Make in Litigating Divorce
  National Business Institute, 2017
• Philadelphia County Domestic Relations Practice (Authored Paternity Chapter & Updated Support Chapter)
  19th Edition, Philadelphia Bar Institute, 2015
• Philadelphia County Domestic Relations Practice (Authored Paternity Chapter & Updated Support Chapter)
  18th Edition, Philadelphia Bar Institute, 2013 
• Paternity Cases
  Philadelphia Bar Institute, 2012
• Crossing the Legal Custody Line
  Philadelphia Bar Association Annual Bench Bar Conference, 2012
• Philadelphia County Domestic Relations Practice (Updated Paternity & Support Chapters)
  17th Edition, Philadelphia Bar Institute, 2011
• Presentation of a Custody Evaluation in a Complex Custody Trial
  Philadelphia Bar Institute, 2011
• Top 10 Current Challenges in Family Law
  National Business Institute, 2010
• Philadelphia County Domestic Relations Practice
  16th Edition, Philadelphia Bar Institute, 2009
• The Counsel Fees Conundrum
  Philadelphia Bar Association Annual Bench Bar, 2009
• You Can’t Fire Me, I Quit: The Proper Way to Extricate
  Philadelphia Bar Institute, 2009
• 12th Annual Family Law Update
  Philadelphia Bar Institute, 2008
• Family Law: Helping Your Clients Through Difficult Cases
  National Business Institute, 2008
• Paternity Cases
  Philadelphia Bar Institute, 2008
• Philadelphia County Domestic Relations Practice
  15th Edition, Philadelphia Bar Institute, 2007
• Primer on Family Law
  National Business Institute, 2006
• Support Guidelines Update
  Philadelphia Bar Association Annual Bench Bar Conference, 2004

Bar Admissions

• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• State of New Jersey
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• U.S. District Court of New Jersey
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit

Education

• Widener University School of Law, 1995
• The American University, 1991