Bill Knight’s blog on life after partnership in a City firm (see entry) is timely. Just last week, Sir Lawrence Collins was appointed a Lord Justice in the Court of Appeal. Lawrence was, of course, a partner at Herbert Smith and – probably his least distinguished role – my principal as an articled clerk.
In 2000 he became the first solicitor to be appointed to the High Court Bench direct from the solicitors profession and now he is the first former solicitor to be appointed to the Court of Appeal – something that reflects well on the profession as a whole. However, Lawrence is a true exception and he adds a different dimension to the Court of Appeal in at least two respects.
