 Without the education or connections that a university education would have provided he was almost entirely unemployed for several years . Kenyon instead lived off an £ 80 allowance from his father , and money from his richer relatives , spending the time watching Lord Mansfield conduct cases at the Court of King 's Bench . His early business was almost entirely conveyancing , and to make extra money he began to attend the Welsh Circuit , where Tomlinson 's contacts allowed him to pick up some small cases . After several years of this he also began attending quarter sessions at Oxford , Stafford and Shrewsbury , " where he was more successful " . While his work slowly began to increase , his main rise was due to his friendship with John Dunning , at the time a similarly near @-@ unemployed barrister . In 1762 one of the leaders of the Northern Circuit died , and his work was given to Dunning ; as he found himself with too many cases , he gave many to Kenyon . In 1767 , for example , Kenyon dealt with 20 of Dunning 's cases . As a result of his speedy and efficient work attorneys began to employ him directly , and within 10 years he was making £ 3 @,@ 000 a year just from opinions . 
