How much does it cost to hire James for a medical malpractice case?

Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. James walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.

Does James offer a free consultation?

James charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain James's office. Some medical malpractice attorneys offer free consults — check James's current terms during booking.

How long do medical malpractice cases in California typically take?

Simple medical malpractice matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. James gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.

Can James take my case if I'm outside San Francisco?

James is licensed in California. Matters governed by California law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — James will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.

What should I bring to my first meeting with James?

Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. James will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.

Is James accepting new medical malpractice clients right now?

James's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.

Unclaimed · Is this you?

James S. Bostwick, Medical Malpractice Attorney in San Francisco, California

focused on Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury

Bostwick & Associates

San Francisco, CA

Trusted medical malpractice attorney serving San Francisco.

Practices in

Medical Malpractice Personal Injury

Are you James S. Bostwick?

This profile was built from public bar records and is still unclaimed. Claim it free to control your photo, bio, and fees — and get client inquiries sent straight to you.

Claim this profile — free

Quick answer

James S. Bostwick is an attorney based in San Francisco, CALIFORNIA. The practice focuses on Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury. Currently practicing at Bostwick & Associates.

Based in: San Francisco, CALIFORNIA
Experience: attorney
Known for: Medical Malpractice · Personal Injury

Handles Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury matters from San Francisco, CALIFORNIA.
Recognized with Lawyer of the Year — Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs (San Francisco) (2012).

Areas of practice

James's practice areas in San Francisco

James concentrates on medical malpractice and personal injury. Each area below outlines the kind of case James handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.

Medical Malpractice cases in San Francisco, California

James takes medical malpractice matters in San Francisco, California. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before James agrees to represent you.

Personal Injury cases in San Francisco, California

James takes personal injury matters in San Francisco, California. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before James agrees to represent you.

Biography

James S. Bostwick, medical malpractice attorney serving San Francisco

James S. Bostwick is an attorney based in San Francisco, CALIFORNIA. The practice focuses on Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury. Currently practicing at Bostwick & Associates. James works from San Francisco, California and takes on medical malpractice matters across the region.

James Bostwick is one of the most respected medical malpractice and personal injury lawyers in the nation. As Founder of Bostwick & Associates, he’s cultivated a reputation as a top-tier specialist in catastrophic malpractice cases and has secured numerous record-setting verdicts and settlements. He is one of a few lawyers in the U.S. deemed a Certified Medical Malpractice Specialist by the American Board of Professional Liability.

Bostwick has spent more than 50 years specializing in complex medical malpractice and personal injury law and has set the bar for litigating some of the most complex and high-stakes cases in the country. He has set and broken many records – many of them his own. In 1979, Bostwick obtained the largest medical malpractice verdict in U.S. history and spent the years since setting state and national records for high-value recoveries in legal malpractice, birth injury, and other personal injury claims. In early 2018, he obtained a $14M malpractice settlement just before trial over a neonatal brain injury. At the time, the result was the largest present value settlement in California history for a case that had not been tried to verdict.

Bostwick has earned widespread recognition from many organizations. He is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, an invite-only organization limited to the top 100 plaintiffs’ lawyers in the U.S. (and considered the most exclusive trial lawyer organization in the world), the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (Top 500 trial lawyers in the US), American Board of Trial Advocates, and Lawdragon 500. He’s been named to Best Lawyers in America every year since its inception in 1983, rated among the Top 4 Trial Lawyers by the California Bar Journal, and featured in Newsweek, Town and Country, and Forbes as one of America’s top trial lawyers.

Working with James on a medical malpractice matter

Who James represents

James reviews new inquiries case-by-case for medical malpractice and personal injury matters in San Francisco and the surrounding California area.

Credentials

Credentials — where James studied and practices

University of California Hastings College of the Law
— · 1969
University of Washington
—

James studied at — in University of California Hastings College of the Law and — in University of Washington.

Law school and academic background

James completed — in University of California Hastings College of the Law and — in University of Washington. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice James runs in California is where that training gets applied to real client questions.

Recognition

James's legal honors and published work

James has received 44 formal recognitions from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.

Lawyer of the Year — Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs (San Francisco)
2012
Best Lawyers in America — Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Medical Malpractice Law
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Product Liability Litigation
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Professional Malpractice Law
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Automobile
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Automobile Collision
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Birth Trauma
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Brain Injury
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Catastrophic Injury
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Civil Litigation
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Hospital Malpractice
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Medical Devices
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Medical Malpractice
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Medical Negligence
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Product Liability
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Professional Malpractice
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Wrongful Death
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
2026
Best Lawyers in America — (1983-present)
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Super Lawyers
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Magazine
2026
Best Lawyers in America — (2004-present)
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Lawdragon 500
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Hall of Fame
2026
Best Lawyers in America — National Law Journal Elite Trial Lawyers National Finalist, Medical Malpractice (2019)
2026
Best Lawyers in America — “Trial Lawyer of the Year” (2012 and 2013)
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Top 4 Trial Lawyers,
2026
Best Lawyers in America — California Bar Journal
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Top 5 Medical Malpractice Trial Lawyers in SF (
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Chronicle
2026
Best Lawyers in America — )
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Top 60 Trial Lawyers in America (
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Forbes, Town & Country
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Consumer Attorneys of California Trial Lawyer of the Year Nominee, 2000
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Presidential Award of Merit, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2000
2026
Best Lawyers in America — San Francisco Trial Lawyers Trial Lawyer of the Year Nominee, 1978
2026

Legal awards and honors

Lawyer of the Year — Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs (San Francisco) (2012). Best Lawyers in America — Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs (2026). Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (2026). Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Best Lawyers in America — Medical Malpractice Law (2026). Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation (2026).

Locations

James S. Bostwick's office in San Francisco

James's primary office is at 50 California St. Suite 1500, San Francisco, California, 94111. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.

Main office

Bostwick & Associates

50 California St. Suite 1500

San Francisco, California 94111

Open in Google Maps

Client feedback

Client reviews of James S. Bostwick

James has not yet collected verified client reviews on LawyersListed. Reviews here are all from confirmed clients; anonymous ratings are moderated out.

No reviews yet

Only verified clients who have consulted with James S. Bostwick can leave a review.

Schedule your consultation

Hiring guide

How to hire James S. Bostwick — what to expect in your first consultation

Working with a new medical malpractice attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with James usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.

Consultation formats and pricing

James charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain James's office.

What to bring to your first meeting

Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; James will tell you what matters and what doesn't.

Questions to ask a medical malpractice attorney in San Francisco, California

A short list to run through before you commit: How many medical malpractice matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?

Fees & payment

Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for James

James discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in medical malpractice practice — ask which fits.

Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options

Every medical malpractice matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. James confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.

Payment methods and payment plans

James's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many medical malpractice practices work with clients on structured schedules.

Frequently asked

Frequently asked questions about James S. Bostwick

How much does it cost to hire James for a medical malpractice case?
Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. James walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.
Does James offer a free consultation?
James charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain James's office. Some medical malpractice attorneys offer free consults — check James's current terms during booking.
How long do medical malpractice cases in California typically take?
Simple medical malpractice matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. James gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.
Can James take my case if I'm outside San Francisco?
James is licensed in California. Matters governed by California law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — James will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.
What should I bring to my first meeting with James?
Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. James will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.
Is James accepting new medical malpractice clients right now?
James's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.

Areas served

Medical Malpractice attorneys serving San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego in California

James handles medical malpractice matters throughout California. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified medical malpractice attorneys in that community.

More counsel

If James's intake is full or the fit isn't right, these medical malpractice attorneys in San Francisco handle similar matters. Every profile below is verified and open to consultations.