Dr. Jimmy Ma was Legal Adviser of the Legislative Council Secretariat from 1996 to June 2015, heading the Legal Service Division of the Secretariat.  The Division is responsible for providing legal advice and support to the Council and its committees on matters relating to the business of the Council, and The Legislative Council Commission on in-house legal matters.

During his tenure as Legal Adviser, he was ex officio Counsel to the Legislature, responsible for advising the President of the Legislative Council and the Clerk to the Legislative Council on legal matters relating to the proceedings of the Council.

Dr. Ma was admitted as a barrister of the Hong Kong Bar in 1985, and as an attorney of the California Bar in 1991.  He obtained his doctorate degree in law from Peking University in 2006, specializing in the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.  In 2013, Dr. Ma was accredited as a mediator.

Dr. Ma was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1998 and was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star in 2015.