At 76, Lord Tim Clement-Jones is busier - and more curious - than ever. His week might include a debate in the House of Lords on AI ethics, a university board meeting on digital futures and an event with young tech entrepreneurs. "I've always believed you can do several things at once," he says. "My trumpet teacher used to tell me off for that when I was 16, but I don't think there's any harm in trying."

Tim's career has been an intricate weave of law, public service, technology and humanity. After studying law, his early exposure to real social need came through volunteering at the first neighbourhood law centre in Notting Hill - then a very different place from today. "It was crime, housing, poverty, social security," he recalls. "It changed my politics - and probably my life."

From there, he became involved in local politics, later chairing the Liberal Party during its merger and helping Paddy Ashdown win the leadership. But alongside this political world, Tim built a demanding career as an in-house lawyer with companies such as Grand Metropolitan and Kingfisher, before becoming UK Managing Partner at DLA Piper as it grew into a global firm.

"I always wanted a twin-track life," he says. "Law, business, politics, charities - they all feed each other. Doing things outside your day job makes you better at it."

When he became Managing Partner, Tim lobbied the firm to support partners approaching retirement. "I'd seen too many people hit what I call the semi-bereavement of leaving," he says. "When you lose the business card that says who you are, you have to create your own identity. That's hard if you haven't thought about it." He argued for structured preparation so partners could plan early, explore interests and build confidence for life beyond the firm.

His insight came not just from observation but experience: "I've been made redundant twice," he says. "The second time, I almost made myself redundant - but you still go through that emotional shock."

Tim's later years have been a masterclass in staying relevant. He became the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on digital affairs, long before AI regulation was fashionable and helped universities and public bodies adapt to a world of data, media literacy and neurotechnology. "I've always been an early adopter," he laughs. "I bought my first Apple Mac in the mid-1980s to design political leaflets."

As chair of council at Queen Mary University of London until recently, he championed the new Digital Environment Research Institute, alongside his role as president of a leading autism charity helping young people into work. "You have to follow your passions," he says. "You don't need to be a slave to duty in your 70s, but you do need to stay intellectually alive."

After the loss of his first wife to cancer in the late 1980s, Tim found strength in what he calls "three networks": business, politics and friends. "If you develop a narrow network only within your job, it's risky. I had three and that kept me resilient."

His view of ageing is as forward-looking as his CV. "You have to be open to suggestion - strategy mixed with opportunity," he says. "Don't just talk about what you did 30 years ago. Listen, learn, stay curious."

Tim still mentors young entrepreneurs, works across generations and laughs at the idea of slowing down. "You're not finished at 60 or 70. You're just in a different phase - one where you can finally choose what really matters."

What can we learn from Tim?

Stay ahead of the curve - Tim's lifelong interest in technology, from early Apple Macs to leading debates on AI ethics in the House of Lords, shows how curiosity keeps you relevant
Expect the identity shock - retirement or redundancy can feel like a "semi-bereavement" when the title disappears
Build more than one life - Tim's parallel worlds of work, politics and friendships gave him resilience through loss and change
Run a twin-track career - doing things outside your day job makes you better at it, not less focused
Mix strategy with opportunity - a loose plan gives direction, while openness allows unexpected roles to emerge

Source: Next-Up Rethink Retirement podcast

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