Known as ‘the people’s judge’, Lord Denning passed away after his 100th birthday in 1999, 17 years after his last office as Master of the Rolls.
Key Achievements:
- 1944: One of the youngest judges ever in the High Court of Justice at age 45
- 1963: Head of inquiry into the Profumo Affair – where he ruled that there were no security leaks after the Secretary of State admitted having an affair
- Ruled that wives in divorce cases were entitled to an equal share of their husband’s wealth
- Made a judgement that paved the way for cheap transatlantic flights by allowing Sir Freddie Laker to compete with British Airways
Follow Their Path: To follow Lord Denning’s path, you’ll start by studying law at Oxford, which you can read all about here.
To become a barrister, you’ll want to get work experience in criminal law at a chambers in the form of mini-pupillages. Find out more here.
You might also want to take a look at our insight into what the judiciary is like – read How to Become a Judge: From CILEx to the Judiciary.
Top Quote: “I was ambitious and saw [a career in law] as the best way to advancement.”
