Jim Magee grew up in Woodside, Queens. He attended St. Teresa's elementary school, Xavier High School, Fordham University, and St. John's University School of Law. He was an investigator at Investigative Management Group.

He was a Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney from 2007 until 2012. He prosecuted DWI, assaults, theft, drug possession, drug sale, gun possession to trial before being moved to the Sex Crimes unit where he became an expert on DNA evidence. In 2012, he became an associate at Heidell, Pittoni, Murphy & Bach, a civil defense firm on Park Avenue. There he learned how to prosecute medical malpractice, personal injury and civil rights cases. In 2014, he started his own general practice specializing in criminal law, personal injury, civil rights and civil litigation.

He was an adjunct professor of trial advocacy at St. John's University School of Law and a guest lecturer at the University of Connecticut.

He lives in Woodside, Queens with his wife and two daughters.