Jim McCartney received his law degree in 1973 and developed a senior litigation practice that included major refinery fire, building, and products liability claims.

He is a Chartered Mediator and has mediated or arbitrated disputes involving construction, architectural services, franchise agreements, fatalities, vehicle accidents, employment, corporate dissolution, debt, shareholder agreements, trusts, tenancy, disability, insurance, industrial land sales, government contracts, fires, pipelines and other matters.

He is a Director and Vice-President (Corporate) of the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society and on the rosters of the Provincial & Queen's Bench mediation programs, the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, the Canadian Transportation Agency arbitration roster, and Chair of a Pipeline Arbitration Committee under the NEB Act.