Massachusetts State Representative James E. Vallee has joined the Boston office of Nixon Peabody LLP as counsel, the law firm said. Vallee, a Democrat from Franklin, will work with attorneys in the firm’s Real Estate and Government Relations & Public Policy practices. During his career in the Massachusetts Legislature, Vallee has served as majority leader, as a member of the Committee on Ways and Means and, mostly recently, as House chairman of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs.