Yang Arif Dato' Alauddin Dato' Mohd. Sheriff was born in Kulim, Kedah on 7th August 1946. He had his early education in 1953 at the Sungai Petani Primary School, and later in 1955 at the Bandar Baharu Primary School. In 1959, Dato' Alauddin continued his studies at the Sultan Badlishah Secondary School, Kulim before transferring to the Ibrahim Secondary School, Sungai Petani until 1963. In 1964, he was transferred to the Sultan Abdul Hamid College and studied there until 1965.

In 1966, Dato' Alauddin enrolled himself at the University of Malaya. In 1967, he left for London to read law at the Inner Temple. He obtained his law degree in 1970.

Career

• Judicial Commissioner in Johor Baharu (1992)
• High Court Judge in Kangar, Perlis (1994)
• High Court Judge in Alor Star, Kedah (1996)
• Judge, Court of Appeal, Kuala Lumpur (2001)

While serving in the legal profession, Yang Arif Dato' Alauddin was bestowed with several awards, among which were the Setia Mahkota Johor (S.M.J.) in 1982, the Pingat Ibrahim Sultan (P.I.S.) in 1983, the Darjah Paduka Mahkota Johor (D.P.M.J.) in 1985 and the Dato' Sedia DiRaja Kedah (D.S.D.K.) in 1998 which carried the title Dato'.