About James R.
James R. Enlow built his foundation at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he completed a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1985. He went on to earn his J.D. from Southern Illinois University — Carbondale in 1988. Those classroom years shaped his early legal instincts and set the stage for a long career in Illinois courts and federal forums.
He began his legal career soon after law school and served as an associate at Gates, Wise, Schlosser & Goebel. Early work at the firm involved routine client representation, courtroom appearances and the day-to-day drafting that every young attorney learns. Over time he moved from entry-level assignments to handling more complex filings and court matters on behalf of clients of the firm.
Enlow is admitted to practice in Illinois and holds admissions to several federal courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and the U.S. District Courts for the Central and Southern Districts of Illinois. Those credentials allow him to represent clients in both state and federal courtrooms. He has handled proceedings, briefs and oral arguments in those venues as part of his practice at the firm.
Outside the office, he has maintained ties to nonprofit and cultural organizations in his region. He is a current member of the Prairie Art Alliance and has served on its board in the past. He has also been active with the Land of Lincoln Down Syndrome Society, where he formerly served as both president and vice president. Those roles reflect an ongoing involvement in community matters and nonprofit governance.
Colleagues describe Enlow as methodical in his preparation and straightforward in court. He approaches files the same way now as earlier in his career: by focusing on the facts, organizing the record and presenting arguments cleanly to judges. Over the years he has balanced courtroom work with the routine legal counseling and document work that keep a practice functioning day to day.
He remains based at Gates, Wise, Schlosser & Goebel, where he continues to serve clients in matters that require appearances in Illinois state courts and in the federal district and appellate courts where he is admitted. As of 2026 he practices at Gates, Wise, Schlosser & Goebel, representing clients in matters before Illinois state and federal courts.
