clark became a visiting lecturer in law at the university of canterbury in new zealand in 1985. promoted reader in 1990, he was subsequently promoted to professor of law in the university of bristol in 1995. he served as head of the department of law for three years from 1997–2000 and was dean of the faculty of law from 2001–2003 and dean of law in 2003-04 on the merger of the faculties of social sciences and law. he was appointed a pro vice-chancellor in 2005, with responsibility for personnel and took up the newly established role of deputy vice-chancellor in 2008.