Dan Schaffer (LLB 1986, Honorary Doctorate 2016) is the Chair of the University of Bristol Law School Advisory Board and responsible for the establishment of our Distinguished Alumni Lecture Programme. Since graduating from the Law School in 1986 he has gone on to have a stellar career in the world of pensions law now achieving partner status at the prestigious law firm Slaughter and May - the first ever lateral partner appointment made in London.
Being appointed as the first ever lateral hire partner by Slaughter and May, London is an historic moment. It’s as good as it gets. How do you feel?
Hugely grateful to all those who have helped and encouraged me throughout my professional and non-professional life. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the incredible tutors at Bristol who inspired me and set me on my way in the law. But for them I would not be taking part in this interview. With no disrespect to others, I would particularly like to acknowledge Keith Stanton (who was a brilliant torts lecturer and contract tutor and who sent me off to Oxford to study for the life-changing postgraduate law degree, the BCL) and his formidable wife Della Evans who taught me Trusts (upon which I have built an entire career). I also feel proud and privileged to be partners shortly with Bristol law alumni Robert Byk, Mark Bennett and Andrew Johnson and with history alumni Nigel Boardman and Rob Innes.
You have gained an exceptional reputation in the City and pensions industry. How?
Bristol Law School was the start of a love affair with the Law of Trusts. Company pension scheme law is based on Trusts so it has never felt like hard work. I am also fortunate to have worked with fantastic colleagues. I learned from brilliant mentors as a young lawyer and have benefited from the help of exceptionally talented associates and peers as a partner. Lawyering is about team-work.
As you plan to leave Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) to join Slaughter and May, is there an achievement of which you are particularly proud?
HSF has always been an incredible supporter of Bristol Law School. It sponsors the main mooting competition very generously. But in terms of my achievements, it must be the HSF employability workshops, introduced in partnership with the Law School, to help students understand the job application process. Twenty Bristol alumni in HSF joined me and Graduate Recruitment to design and run these very popular workshops last Autumn. I hope after I have left HSF will continue to run the workshops every year. They should. And every student should sign up for them if they want to enhance their career prospects. HSF has done something very special for Bristol.
As Chair of the Law School Advisory Board you have played a huge role in the development of our employability programme led by Dr Clair Gammage. What’s next on your agenda for the Law School?
The Law School Advisory Board is looking in depth at how both the current activities and the law degree could even better serve students’ employability prospects. This Autumn, I’m particularly looking forward to a public discussion planned for October 2017 in the Wills Memorial Building Great Hall. The event will be led by law alumna and will invite students to think about the psychology behind self-belief, focus, resilience and the mind-set needed to succeed in the study of law and into a career.
You’ve been here and now done it all. So what advice would you give to our students to help them achieve their career aspirations?
Never ever, ever give up. Even when all the empirical evidence points to the contrary, never give up for what is right and what matters. There are bound to be moments in life when you feel disillusioned. Energy and endurance are the two key ingredients in the alchemy that turns apparent inevitable failure into success.
On 19th July 2016, Daniel Schaffer received an honorary degree for his tireless work for generations of law students at the University. Watch his acceptance speech on YouTube.