Upon graduating from Victoria University in 1975, Collins took up a three-month research position at Rhyne & Rhyne in Washington DC. After this role concluded he returned to New Zealand and completed his LL.M. He commenced a two-year clerkship for the Judges of the High Court and
Court of Appeal of New Zealand between 1976 and 1978. In 1979, Collins commenced practicing law in Wellington as a solicitor for
Chapman Tripp. In 1982 he was admitted to partnership in a firm that subsequently merged and is today known as Rainey Collins. He remained at the firm until 1995. In 1996 he left practice to become a
barrister. During this period he conducted several appeals before the
Privy Council in London. He took silk in 2000. Prior to his appointment as Solicitor-General, Collins was Chair of the Accident Compensation Commission, and Chair of the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. Collins has served terms as President of the Wellington District Law Society, vice-president of the
New Zealand Law Society, and Executive Vice President and member of the Board of Governors, World Association of Law and Medicine. and has been a contributory author for three other texts. He has written a number of articles. == Interests ==