James is an RCVS and European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery. James graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2000 and won the 2000 RCVS Fitzwygram prize; awarded to the most academically outstanding student from UK veterinary schools.

James gained the Certificate in Small Animal Surgery in 2003 and was appointed lecturer in small animal orthopaedics at the University of Edinburgh in 2004. He became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) in 2006 and joined Grove Referrals in 2007.