Apprentice, James H. Kirby, Architect, Syracuse, NY, 1880-c. 1884; Architect, North River Construction Company, contractor for the West Shore Railroad, New York, NY, c. 1884-1886; the West Shore Railroad curtailed construction when it was purchased by the New York Central Railroad in 1885, and its lines combined with those of the latter. Partner, Kirby and Randall, Architects, Syracuse, NY, c. 1886-1888. Principal, James A. Randall, Architect, Syracuse, NY, 1888-1893; Partner, [Asa L.] Merrick and Randall, Architects, Syracuse, NY, 1893-1922; Partner, Randall and [James R.] Vedder, Architects, Syracuse, NY, 1922-c. 1940. During the course of his career, Randall developed a diverse practice designing churches, schools, fire stations, apartment building, house and commercial buildings. A prominent commission was for the Beaux-Arts Onondaga Public Library Building (1902-05) in Downtown Syracuse. Like many other libraries of the time, it was financed by an Andrew Carnegie grant.

President, American Institute of Architects (AIA), Syracuse Chapter, 1934-1936.

Randall was an avid tennis player. Co-founder, Sedgwick Farm Tennis Club, Syracuse, NY, 1890s. Randall designed the Sedgwick Farm Tennis Club Clubhouse #2 in 1909 at 202 Sedgwick Drive in Syracuse.