He served in World War II before going to Trinity Hall, Cambridge to read law in 1946.
After his active service during the war, he returned and obtained a LL B, After graduating, he was awarded the Elsie Ballot Scholarship and gained entry to study law at Trinity College, Cambridge.
[3] Corbett began his legal career when he read in the chambers of Marius Diemont for about six months before commencing practice.
In 1965, he was appointed as a Chamber Judge to the Bench of the Cape Provincial Division, hearing chamber matters and summary suits, and made Judge of Appeal in 1974, hearing mainly admiralty/maritime (including marine insurance and contract) and testamentary appeals.
His father had been an Inner Temple barrister, who for many years was Commissioner for Inland Revenue of the Union of South Africa.