Professional Experience

Meet James Buikema, Criminal Defense Attorney at Hirsch Law Group. With over seven years of experience in criminal law, James began his career as a prosecutor in Indianapolis, where he regularly conducted both bench and jury trials. This courtroom experience shaped him into a proactive and strategic defense attorney. James anticipates the prosecution’s arguments — because he’s made them himself. Licensed in both Illinois and Indiana, James has secured numerous not-guilty verdicts in both states, defending clients in cases ranging from domestic battery and DUIs to serious felonies and traffic offenses. He brings courtroom confidence, sharp legal insight, and a fierce commitment to protecting the rights of the accused.

Areas of Practice

  • Domestic Battery
  • Orders of Protection
  • DUI
  • Misdemeanors
  • Felonies
  • Traffic

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois: 2023
  • Indiana: 2017

Education

  • Northern Illinois University College of Law, J.D. – 2016
  • Northern Illinois University, B.S. – 2012
    • Major: Political Science, Public Law
    • Minor: Philosophy

Professional Associations

  • Winnebago County Bar Association
  • McHenry County Bar Association
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • American Bar Association