On finishing his education at Inst in 1982, James went to Exeter university to study Law, graduating in 1985. After qualifying as a Solicitor in 1989 and practising in London, he returned to Belfast in 1990 and joined Cleaver Fulton Rankin. James later joined Keystone Law as a Director in 2017, where he specialises in all aspects of commercial and residential property. He follows Instonian rugby with interest and finds relaxation on the golf course, being a member of Helen’s Bay GC.