He earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1968.
Membership is by invitation and limited to fewer than one percent of active trial lawyers in the United States.
He is the subject of a feature article in the April 2007 Colorado Super Lawyer entitled "The Gold Standard – How Jim Lyons Helped Bring Peace to Northern Ireland".
[3] He is a former adjunct faculty member at the University of Denver College of Law and Graduate School of International Studies.
He is a frequent panelist and lecturer to legal audiences on trial subjects, ethics and conflict resolution.
The International Fund for Ireland is a multi-nation foundation supported by the United States, the European Union, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
He was responsible for the establishment of Aspire, a micro loan fund in Belfast and the first of its kind in Western Europe.
[5] In commenting on his service, President Bill Clinton stated: "Jim was very important to the peace process in Northern Ireland because of his tireless efforts to keep Americans involved in promoting economic development in a way that benefited both countries, promoted reconciliation and effectively demonstrated the depth of our commitment to peace."
In 2002, the University of Ulster awarded Lyons an honorary Doctorate of Laws in recognition "of his service to the people of Northern Ireland and the cause of peace."
Within a month, Lyons issued a report which concluded that the Clintons had not been involved in the management of the Whitewater real estate venture or the failure or Madison Guaranty Savings & Loan.