Ken Polack was born in London in 1933 but had his early education in South Africa, taking a BA from Rhodes University, Grahamstown. He returned to England to begin studies in Law at King’s as an Affiliated Student in 1954, gaining a first class in the Tripos in 1956 followed by a first class degree in the LLB examinations. His outstanding ability as a student forced King’s to suppress its long-standing misgivings that Law was not a fit subject for University education. In 1960 the College appointed him the first ever College Lecturer and Director of Studies in Law.
As a Director of Studies in the subject, Ken encouraged a broad education before focusing on the Law itself, and was influential in the future legal careers of many Kingsmen and women, as well as being a popular College figure. Ken remained as Director of Studies in Law at King’s until 1993, having been Assistant Tutor from 1961 to 1965, Financial Tutor from 1965 to 1968, Senior Tutor from 1968-69 and First Bursar from 1969 to 1981.
The Ken Polack Fund
To honour his life and achievements, the College established the Ken Polack Fund, with the purpose of promoting the study of Law at King's and to provide support for graduate students in Law, the Humanities and Social Sciences, with special consideration given to those coming from countries where funding is not readily available to support study at Cambridge.
