Jim Baker was born in Vancouver, graduating from the University of British Columbia in 1962 with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and a Bachelor of Law Degree. Following graduation, he articled with Lawrence and Shaw in Vancouver. After a few years of working with a small firm, which was the predecessor to the present firm of McCarthy Tetrault, and the Office of the City Prosecutor in Vancouver, B.C. he moved to Chilliwack joining our predecessor firm of Wilson Hinds and Davies in 1965. Shortly thereafter he became a partner with this firm and has continued to practice with Baker Newby LLP ever since. In 1983, he was appointed a Queen's Counsel.

Mr. Baker has always been active in the Bar, having served as President of the Chilliwack and District Bar Association, President of the Fraser Valley Bar Association, a member of the Executive Council of the Canadian Bar Association (B.C. Branch) and a member of the American and British Columbia Trial Lawyers Associations. In addition, he has lectured, served on panels and provided materials to the Law Society's Continuing Legal Education program.

Mr. Baker's area of practice has been wide ranging from criminal law and matrimonial law to general civil litigation including environmental law and native rights. At present, his practice is primarily civil litigation with a strong insurance and personal injury law component. He regularly appears in the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the British Columbia Court of Appeal and has appeared as counsel in most of the Superior Courts throughout the Province of British Columbia.

Mr. Baker's leisure time involves golfing, hiking, and puttering around his Hornby Island cottage with his wife Eran.