Former Newfoundland and Labrador premier Clyde Wells has returned to his first career: law.

Wells, who served as premier between 1989 and 1996 and who is a former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, has joined the St. John's firm of Cox & Palmer as counsel.

Wells retired as a supernumerary member of the Supreme Court of Appeal in November, when he turned 75.

"This is a very natural fit for me," Wells said in a statement released by Cox & Palmer.

Wells, who had been a cabinet minister in Joseph R. Smallwood's government in the late 1960s, earned a reputation as one of Canada's foremost constitutional lawyers while he worked in private practice. He had worked in Corner Brook, and later in St. John's, including with the firm of O'Reilly Noseworthy, one of the firms that merged to form Cox & Palmer.

"Rejoining the firm I was earlier connected with gives me an opportunity to continue my long-term involvement with the legal profession," Wells said. "I am looking forward to that involvement and hope to make a positive advisory contribution in the process."

Wells guided the Liberals to power in 1989, breaking 17 years of Tory rule.