Phillips was born 21 January 1938. He was educated at
Bryanston School (where he was appointed a governor of the school in 1975, he has been chairman of its governors since 1981). He undertook
National Service with the
Royal Navy and the
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, being commissioned as an officer. After two years' military service he went to
King's College, Cambridge, where he read law. In 1962, he was
called to the Bar at the
Middle Temple, where he was a Harmsworth Scholar. He undertook pupillage at 2
Essex Court Chambers (with the Anglo-American QC, Waldo Porges) and subsequently obtained a tenancy there, later moving to 1 Brick Court (now
Brick Court Chambers). In 1973, he was appointed as Junior Counsel to the
Ministry of Defence and to the
Treasury in
Maritime and
Admiralty matters. On 4 April 1978, he became
Queen's Counsel. ==Judicial career==