James Joyce

Assistant Professor of Public Law and Government

University of NC School of Government

Jim Joyce is an Assistant Professor of Public Law and Government at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government, where he teaches, advises, and researches on laws related to development regulation, municipal annexation, and environmental protection. Among his teaching duties, Professor Joyce administers the certification course and exam for North Carolina zoning officials and frequently trains local government board members across the state. He also posts regularly to the School’s local government law blog Coates Canons, recently released a primer on brownfields redevelopment for public property owners, is co-author of two School of Government books, and has contributed chapters to the forthcoming publications Annexation Law in North Carolina and County and Municipal Government. One of his recent publications was awarded the School’s Margaret Taylor Writing Award. Before joining the School of Government in 2020, he practiced environmental and land use law in the Raleigh office of a global law firm for over ten years. Professor Joyce holds a bachelor’s degree with highest honors from UNC-Chapel Hill, a master of community planning degree from the University of Maryland, and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.