James Curtis, formerly senior vice president and senior counsel at Bank of the West, where he served as the bank's primary contracts attorney for 22 years, divides his time teaching at USC Gould School of Law and at the UCLA Extension Paralegal Training Program. He teaches contracts, contract drafting and negotiation, and commercial paper. He has taught at USC Gould School of Law since 1993.

In 2015, Curtis was awarded the California banking attorney of the year award, the Almon McCallum Award, by the California Bankers Association, a division of the Western Bankers Association. In 2012, UCLA presented Curtis with the Distinguished Instructor Award. The award, presented annually to the top 1 percent of UCLA Extension instructors, recognizes "exemplary teaching, professional knowledge and outstanding commitment to students."

Curtis earned his BA degree with high honors from Eastern Illinois University, and his JD degree from USC Gould School of Law, where he served as vice chair of the Hale Moot Court Honors Program. In 2011, he established the James B. Curtis Endowed Scholarship at USC Law. His 2016 gift named the Hale Moot Court Honors Board office at the USC Gould School of Law. His 2022 gift honored his parents, Anne E. and Gerald F. Curtis.