James qualified as a solicitor in 1984 in his home city of Norwich. He joined a Firm of solicitors in Ipswich, and in 1988 took up a position with Jackaman Smith & Mulley in the Felixstowe office, specialising in residential property work. In 1997 he moved to Diss to be Partner in charge there, the Firm having merged with Rollin & Co. James has been the Senior Partner of the Firm since May 2005