On Moving from Private Practice to Academia

Abstract

By reason of the SCCL jubilee, I have been asked to share a few reflections on the transition from life as a law firm partner to that as a full-time researcher and teacher. This contribution will be organised as a list of differences, where each heading signifies something characteristic of university life. 
Before delving into the traits that divide us, I will however say that in my limited experience there are more similarities than differences. This, I believe, is because ultimately the way we live and work and the problems we choose to try and work out are more to do with the nature of law and who we are, than where we happen to earn our living.