About J. Scott
J. Scott James earned a Master of Arts from the University of Tennessee–Knoxville in 2000 and a J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law in 2003. He arrived at law school after graduate study and left with a clear sense that public service and rural practice would shape his career. Those early academic years set a steady course for work in county government and tribal legal offices.
His legal career began in private practice as an associate at Riling, Burkhead & Nitcher in 2006. He moved into county government two years later as an assistant county lawyer in Ford County. That role exposed him to the day-to-day demands of municipal and county matters. In 2013 he became the Kiowa County lawyer, taking on broader responsibility for local prosecutions and civil work for the county.
In 2016 James opened James Law Office LLC and served as owner and managing lawyer. Running a small practice sharpened his handling of routine litigation, client counseling and court appearances across a range of matters. His career then took a tribal law turn in 2018 when he served as Lawyer General for the Oglala Sioux Tribe. That position involved working within tribal governance and addressing issues that often intersect federal, state and tribal jurisdictions.
In 2022 he established Southern Hills Law Office and assumed the role of owner and managing lawyer there. Throughout his career he has balanced private practice and public roles, moving fluidly between courtroom representation and legal advising for local governments and a tribal community. He is admitted to practice in both Kansas and South Dakota and has maintained professional memberships that date back to at least 2005 and 2017.
Colleagues describe him as steady and pragmatic. He tends to emphasize clear legal options for clients and practical next steps. Much of his work ties back to the needs of smaller communities: county matters, municipal concerns and representation that requires an understanding of local procedures. His time as a tribal Lawyer General added an institutional perspective that informs how he approaches disputes that touch government entities.
James lives his professional life close to the communities he serves. He runs Southern Hills Law Office as a regional practice serving clients in the jurisdictions where he is admitted. He currently practices at Southern Hills Law Office, representing clients in matters arising in Kansas and South Dakota.
