Getting to know Sir Geoffrey Nice QC

TL;DR

A South London boy shares his journey from school to becoming a Gresham Professor of Law, and how working for the United Nations shaped his perspective on the shortcomings of the legal system.

Transcript

I was South London boy from where i had the great good fortune of going to what used to be called a direct grants schools and Danson's college in catford that took me to Kiva College Oxford where are the red philosophy politics and economics I did a few other jobs in social work and in industry in order to get the money to go to the bar I went to t... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤠 The speaker's journey from a South London boy to Gresham Professor of Law involved attending a direct grants school, Kiva College Oxford, and working in various fields to fund his legal education.
• 🇺🇳 Working for the United Nations in The Hague gave the speaker a global perspective and allowed him to identify shortcomings within the English legal system.
• 🥺 The speaker's dissatisfaction with the legal system led him to write and lecture internationally, eventually leading him to become a Gresham Professor of Law.

Questions & Answers

Q: What academic and professional path did the speaker take before becoming a Gresham Professor of Law?

The speaker attended a direct grants school and Kiva College Oxford, studied philosophy, politics, and economics. He worked in social work and industry to afford his legal education, became a barrister in 1971, and later joined the United Nations in The Hague.

Q: Why did the speaker decide to work for the United Nations instead of pursuing a full-time legal career?

The speaker perceived shortcomings in the English legal system and became dissatisfied with the overcomfortable environment of lawyers, barristers, and judges. Working for the United Nations allowed him to see the flaws more profoundly, prompting him to explore these issues by writing and lecturing internationally.

Q: How did working for the United Nations shape the speaker's perspective on the law?

Working internationally, the speaker gained a broader understanding of the shortcomings of the English legal system. This experience led him to reflect on and criticize aspects of the legal system that he had perceived earlier. It also allowed him to develop a deeper understanding and engage in academic activities like writing and lecturing.

Q: What ultimately led the speaker to become a Gresham Professor of Law?

The speaker had been involved in academic activities prior to becoming a Gresham Professor, writing and lecturing at various universities. His experiences working internationally and his reflections on the legal system led him to pursue this role, which he found to be a fulfilling development in his career.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker attended a direct grants school and then Kiva College Oxford, where he studied philosophy, politics, and economics before working in social work and industry to fund his legal education.

• He became a barrister in 1971, toyed with politics, but eventually chose to join the United Nations in The Hague.

• Working internationally allowed him to see the shortcomings of the English legal system, which led to his writing, lecturing, and eventually becoming a Gresham Professor of Law.