Alongside working for Representative Sheffield, Chair of Criminal Jurisprudence Nicole Collier, Representative Gary Gates, and Representative John Frullo, he also managed campaigns and served as key committee staff.

James holds a B.S. in Geophysics from Texas Tech University and worked in the Permian Basin with a small geophysical contractor shooting seismic and resistivity surveys before entering the legislative realm. In his free time, he enjoys live music and being outdoors.