 Jones attended Christ 's Hospital ( also known as " The Bluecoat School " ) , after which he served as an indentured apprentice studying jurisprudence under a solicitor in the Court of Chancery and of Lyon 's Inn in Middlesex . At the age of 21 , Jones was admitted to practice law following the completion of his apprenticeship . He was persuaded by either Thomas Fairfax , 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron , the landowner of the Northern Neck Proprietary , or his relative Hugh Mercer to return to Virginia , where he engaged in the practice of law . 
