He graduated with a BA in 1816 at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, as senior wrangler and first Smith's prizeman.
He was subsequently elected Fellow of his college, proceeded MA in 1819, and was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn on 28 June of that year.
[2][3] Jacob practised in the chancery court, and was appointed a King's Counsel on 27 December 1834.
[2] With John Walker, Jacob edited Reports of Cases in the Court of Chancery during the time of Lord-chancellor Eldon, 1819, 1820, 2 vols.
[2] This work was the basis for the Treatise on the Law of Husband and Wife (1849) of John Edward Bright.