Founded by the late George E. Dargan in 1897, listing his fields of practice as "Corporation, Commercial and Real Estate Law". T. Dudley Paulling became a member of the firm in the early 1920's under the name of Dargan & Paulling. Albert L. James Jr. joined the firm in 1946, and in 1949 the name was changed to Paulling & James. Albert L. James III joined the firm in 1971, and John Jay James II in 1974. Firm conducts a general civil practice, concentrating on corporation, probate, real estate, taxation, estate planning and insurance law, banking and trials.