A solicitor’s son, Sir Timothy Walker was a prize-winning scholar both at Harrow School and at University College, Oxford, where he studied law, graduated with first class honours, and won the University's prestigious Eldon Law Scholarship. He was called to the Bar by Inner Temple in 1968, and taught law at King's College London while studying for the Bar Examinations. He joined Fountain Court Chambers and practiced commercial law, and in particular insurance and reinsurance, and shipping and international trade. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1985, and was a Recorder from 1986 to 1996. He was made a Judge of the Queen’s Bench Division in 1996, and was nominated to sit in the Commercial Court. He retired in 2002.