A leading Kent solicitor has decided to give up the courtroom and return to the classroom after 25 years of practice.

Tim Fagg, senior partner at Kingsfords in Ashford, qualified as a solicitor in 1975. He has been an actor, a rugby referee and, later this year, will start teaching classics at Saint Ronan’s School in Hawkhurst, a private school that two of his children still attend.


His career began conventionally enough – a law degree at Cambridge University, followed by the Law Society finals at the College of Law’s former Lancaster Gate branch in London, and articles with City firm McKenna & Co (now CMS Cameron McKenna).


He said: ‘After qualifying, I went to the Guildhall School of Music and Dance. I did seaside rep and off-West End productions. When I was out of work, I taught in a prep school.’


In 1980, he returned to law and joined Kingsfords. Looking back over his career, Mr Fagg said: ‘One of the highlights came after a client whose divorce I was handling told me he wanted to marry his mother-in-law, which at the time was not permitted.’


Mr Fagg explained: ‘I went to the House of Lords to get a Bill passed to amend the Marriage Act. I drafted much of it, found a friendly peer to propose it and addressed the House, which was very nerve wracking. The Bill was passed in 1984 and the Act amended in 1985.’


Explaining why he decided to change jobs at the age of 54, he said: ‘It was unfinished business from 1978. I stopped teaching after being offered the part of the Tin Man in [a version of] ‘The Wizard of Oz’. I always wanted to go back and I realised if I didn’t do it now, I never would.’


He went on: ‘The legal profession is a good place, but it has changed beyond recognition since I started. Younger people are coming up and there is no point saying “that’s not how we did it 20 years ago”.


‘I am of the old school where it was possible to be someone’s family solicitor and deal with all their legal problems. Now everything is governed by regulation and time recording.’


Mr Fagg added: ‘I will miss the law – I have always done litigation and will miss the cut and thrust of trying to do the best for the client, but I will keep reading my Gazette.’