Ivan Lawrence

Sir Ivan John Lawrence, QC, (born 24 December 1936) is a distinguished criminal barrister and was a British Conservative politician.

Early life

Lawrence was educated at Brighton, Hove and Sussex Grammar School (became Brighton Hove & Sussex Sixth Form College in 1975) on "Dyke Road" in Hove. He is President of the School's Old Boys Association. He read Jurisprudence at Christ Church, Oxford. From 1955-57, he did National Service in the RAF. He was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1962, Queen's Counsel in 1981, a Recorder of the Crown Court in 1985, a Bencher of the Inner Temple in 1991, and was knighted in 1992. He has defended in 80 murder trials, and has appeared in a number of notable criminal trials,for example the Krays (gang-land murders), Denis Nilsen (the serial killer), Russell Bishop (Brighton Babes in the Wood murder), the Mountnessing Silver bullion robbery, the Brinks-Matt gold bullion money-laundering, and a mass-murder War Crimes trial at the Hague.

Parliamentary career

Lawrence, having twice unsuccessfully stood for the Peckham constituency in 1966 and 1970, was elected MP for Burton in February 1974. He held the seat until May 1997 when he lost to Labour's Janet Dean.He was Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee from 1992 to 1997 and was Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (UK Branch) from 1995 to 1997. He was a member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee from 1982 to 1992, and served on a number of other Parliamentary Committees concerned with health, employment, and law and order. His Private Members Bill in 1991 instigated the national lottery, and in 1985 he made the longest speech in Parliament that century (on the Water Fluoridation Bill).

Post-parliamentary career

He is now a member of Clarendon Chambers, a member of the Society for Advanced legal Studies, an elected member of the Bar Council and Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Buckingham.

Personal life

He has been married to Gloria for 42 years. They have one daughter, Rachel Lawrence, a criminal barrister,a former CF Achiever of the Year and star of "Blind Date".

External links

* [http://www.clarendonchambers.com/cc_componentpages/ccbios-new/sirIvanLawrence.html Clarendon Chambers]
* [http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/members/mr-ivan-lawrence Speeches in the House of Commons]