Alan graduated LL.B (Hons) at London University in 1976, completed Bar-at-Law in 1977 and began pupillage and practice in London in specialised shipping chambers. In 1979, he returned to Melbourne and was employed as a solicitor with an international mining company and later with a large Melbourne legal firm. In 1982 Alan became a partner in a suburban firm with a diverse general practice. His principal areas of practice were commercial law and litigation.

Alan joined the Victorian Bar in 1993 and in 1994 moved to Albury-Wodonga. Since that time he has practised in both Victoria and New South Wales, maintaining chambers in Melbourne and Albury. His Melbourne practice is still commercially based, but his country practice is more general in nature. This includes commercial, criminal, industrial, family and personal injury work on both sides of the border.

Alan has been appointed as an arbitrator for the New South Wales Local Court, and has been accredited as a mediator by the Victorian Bar Council. He is also an Associate Member of the Institute of Arbitrators, Australia. In these capacities he has conducted many court-appointed mediations and arbitrations in both States.