Jim Shaw is a life-long Hamburg resident dedicated to the well-being of the Hamburg Community and all who reside there. Jim was born and raised in Hamburg by his parents, Joe and Josephine Shaw. Jim attended Canisius College, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in political science. Following college, Jim was admitted to the University of Toledo Law School where, in 1973, he earned a Juris Dr. Degree. Jim then returned to Hamburg, where he established the Shaw and Shaw law firm with his brother, Joe. Since then the pair have capably expanded their client base into the largest law practice in southern Erie County, with Jim litigating almost 3,000 civil and criminal cases in his 42-year career.
In addition to his law firm, Jim has also served as Erie County Assistant District Attorney (1973-75), Erie County Legal Deputy County Clerk (1975-77), Erie County Legislature Democratic Majority and Minority Counsel (1980-1991 and 2003-2006), counsel to a number of town and school boards including Lackawanna City Schools, Frontier Central Schools, Town of Eden and the Villages of Blasdell and Farnham.
Jim is known for his dedication to the community as a former president and active member of the Erie County Bar Association, Chair of the Erie County Reapportionment Committee, member of the Executive Committee of the New York Bar Association and member of the American Bar Association. Jim is also regarded throughout Hamburg for his 50 years of dedicated community service to his hometown.
