 He was educated at the High School in Edinburgh then studied law at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with an MA.The brother of Thomas Maitland, Lord Dundrennan, he became an advocate in 1831, and served in government as Solicitor General for Scotland from 1855–1858 and from 1859–1862.He was appointed a Lord of Session, with the judicial title Lord Barcaple, in 1862.