Jim’s current legal practice is focused in school, education and public institutions law.

Jim was born in 1951, in Holdrege, Nebraska. He graduated from Hastings Public Schools in 1969 and Hastings College in 1973. Upon graduating from college, Jim married Judi Prostok and moved to Lincoln where they resided ever since. Jim and Judi have two children, Ben Gessford and Nikki (Perry).

Jim graduated from the University of Nebraska Law School in 1976. Between 1973 and 1976, while attending law school, Jim spent a short time with the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League, and was a member of the Chicago Fire and the Chicago Winds in the World Football League.

Jim is a member and past president (1981 and 1982) of the Nebraska School Board Council of School Attorneys and from 1994 through 1998 served on the Board of Directors of the National School Board Council of School Attorneys. He is a frequent speaker and author in the school, education and public institutions law areas.