Jim Buckley's work as an attorney made him a pioneer in developing the concepts and framework that became New York state's no-fault insurance laws in the 1970s, and he made himself a force for good with his volunteer and charity work in Buffalo and western New York. After graduating from Canisius College, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Army reserves, where he served six months of active duty, then seven and a half years of active reserve duty before being discharged as a Captain. After earning his law degree from University of Buffalo, Jim's long legal career saw him handling a wide variety of personal injury negligence cases, and he served as an arbitrator on New York's no-fault vehicle insurance program. Jim served on the Board of Directors of the Erie County Bar Association from 1978-81, was on the American Arbitration Association, and had numerous decisions published in the New York State No Fault/Sum Arbitration Reporter journal. He has served on the Board of Directors for Holy Angels Academy in Buffalo, and is a member of the St. Thomas More Guild.