Lord Collins of Mapesbury (Lawrence Collins) couldn’t be present to pick up his lifetime achievement award at last week’s Law Society Excellence Awards. Instead, he recorded an acceptance speech, Hollywood-style, that was broadcast at the event.

In it he reminisced about a less frantic age in the law, when the working habits of partners in the ‘great City firms’ were rather different from today. When Collins’ career began in 1966, their typical day would proceed thus:The sixties swung for everyone, clearly, lawyers included.

  • 10am. He (almost invariably he) arrives at the office from Surrey.
  • 10.10am. Reads post (including post sent to assistants); dictates a few letters to shorthand typist.
  • 12.30pm. Departs for lunch at merchant bank (Kleinwort Benson, Lazards).
  • 12.45pm. Lunch begins with aperitif.
  • 3.45pm. Lunch finishes, after port has been passed ‘more than once’.
  • 4.00pm. Arrives back at office to sign letters dictated earlier.
  • 5.10pm. Catches Waterloo train home.