James served as the Editor-in-Chief of the University of Cincinnati Law Review for 2008–2009, and as an Articles Editor on the Human Rights Quarterly, 2007–2008. While in school, James also founded the U.C. Law student chapter of the ACLU, and worked as an extern for United States Senior District Judge Herman J. Weber of the Southern District of Ohio.

Publication: Comment, Eliminating the Nexus Obstacle to the Prosecution of International Drug Traffickers on the High Seas, 77 U. Cin. L. Rev. 267 (2008)
Note: James A. Tate is a 2009 recipient of the James B. Helmer, Jr. University of Cincinnati Law Review Prize