Andrew Inglis ClarkPrimary architect of Australia's constitution

Lawyer & Judge

Clark turned from engineering to the law in 1872 when he was articled to R.P. Adams and was called to the Bar in 1877. He won early fame as a criminal lawyer, but later built up a large practice in civil jurisdiction. In January 1887 he went into partnership with Matthew Wilkes Simmons and continued to practice while a politician until his elevation to the Bench as a Supreme Court Judge in 1898.

Clark's published legal writing included, Studies in Australian constitutional law (1901) and articles in the Commonwealth Law Review.

His generosity and refusal ‘to accept anything beyond a reasonable and modest fee’ prevented him from becoming wealthy from his legal practice.