Jim Stewart received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Northeastern University in 1968.

He served in the United States Navy from 1968 until 1972, serving on submarines in New London, Connecticut and on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, DC. In 1978 he received his Master in Arts degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. Jim was a National Service Officer for the Disabled American Veterans from 1975 until his retirement in 2000. During this period he was Supervisor of the DAV office at the Washington Regional Office and at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. He was admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) in June 1995 and has continued in appeals work following his retirement from the DAV with National Veterans Legal Services Program as an Appeals Representative.

He specializes in claims for service connection for PTSD and the evaluation of traumatic injuries, specifically the residuals of gunshot and shrapnel wounds. Over the years, he has trained both DAV and American Legion service officers in the proper evaluation of traumatic injuries. Jim joined the American Legion, Henlopen Post 5 in 2002 and currently serves as the Service officer and Adjutant. He is also a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans.