Educated at the King's School, Chester and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, Robin Spencer was called to the Bar in 1978 and has practised at 1 Stanley Place Chambers (formerly Sedan House) since pupillage.

As a junior he specialsed in serious crime, fraud and trading standards (including food law). He had a wide civil practice including most common law work, employment and personal injuries.

He took Silk in 1999. His main areas of practice in Silk are crime (particularly homicide and fraud), trading standards and judicial review.

He was appointed a Recorder in 1998 and a Deputy High Court Judge in 2001.