James is the Director of the Institute. He is a Senior Research Fellow and a research specialist in constitutionalism and rule of law; democracy and institutional reform; natural resource governance; property, land and mineral rights law; international law and environmental governance. He has undertaken various research projects involving technical policy and legal analysis, legislative drafting, training and capacity building; advisory and facilitating roles for governments and international organisations, and provision of legal advice for state and non-state organisations and the private sector. He has published widely in accredited and refereed journals.

He obtained his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Zimbabwe and Master of Laws from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He proceeded to study for his Doctor of Laws degree at Rhodes University, South Africa and graduated in 2013.  James has worked as a professional attorney in legal practice, as a senior academic in law schools, an adviser on law degrees for the Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE). He is also currently a member of various committees, boards and associations in state and non-state institutions.