Bryan Keon-Cohen was educated in Melbourne where he still lives with his wife June, three daughters and five grandchildren. He graduated in Law/Arts at Melbourne University (1973); lectured at the Monash University Law School (1974 - 77); and worked with the Australian Law Reform Commission in Sydney (1978 - 80). He joined the Victorian Bar in 1981 and practiced as a barrister for 35 years. He took silk in 1996 and was awarded an AM for services to the law, particularly in human rights, in 2012. His book, written for the layman - A Mabo Memoir: Islan Kustom to Native Title (Zemvic Press, 2013) was the basis of his PhD awarded by Monash University. This memoir concerned his experiences acting for the plaintiffs in the ten-year native title High Court case, Mabo.