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isr's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.5
++informative
+accessible; example cases and explanations with cited notes
---we're doomed
+accessible; example cases and explanations with cited notes
---we're doomed
donsar's review
4.0
Another excellent book by the Secret Barrister (SB). Full disclosure, I'm a lawyer myself, although I practice in Ireland. While SB's first book focused on the inequities of the British system particularly in light of the enormous cuts to the Justice budget, Fake Law looks at the relationship between law, media and politics.
Apart from a maturing of SB's writing style which you would expect for a second book, as a non-British lawyer I found there to be a greater resonance with the issues in my own jurisdiction. For that reason alone I prefer Fake Law. I would encourage anyone outside of the UK to give this book a go - you won't be disappointed. While of course the various cases discussed were British, many of them were very recent 'scandals' which were reported far and wide in the English-language press.
SB has a great punchy style of writing, but Chapter 2 proves that they're not just a one trick pony. This chapter looks at the cases of Charlie Gard and Alfie Evans, two very young children where hospitals sought Orders to administer palliative care. Many people will remember the horrendous media storm which dragged in, amongst others, Donald Trump and the Pope. This chapter is really the stand out of the book and shows SB at their best. Infused with kindness towards the grieving parents, SB lambasts the special interest groups who latched on to the parents and the media (not only tabloids) and politicians of various stripes that encouraged and fanned the flames of the furore.
For me, the reiteration of some of the first principles of tort or the ECtHR were a little redundant (as of course we follow many of the same principles in Irish law) however I would certainly recommend this book for a prospective law student - not only are the cases discussed contemporary and interesting, SB is excellent at breaking down complex areas of law back to basics.
SB finishes with a serious of somewhat loose suggestions on what can be done to aid the generally terrible understanding the public (and politicians) have of the law. Only a few pages are devoted to this and it is perhaps the weakest part of the book. I actually thought the suggestion that new MPs entering Parliament should attend mandatory law courses an excellent one - I don't understand why SB walked that back!
Overall, this book is a truly excellent and prescient popular law book and I will be pressing it into many, many hands. SB is firmly established as an 'instant buy' author for me.
Apart from a maturing of SB's writing style which you would expect for a second book, as a non-British lawyer I found there to be a greater resonance with the issues in my own jurisdiction. For that reason alone I prefer Fake Law. I would encourage anyone outside of the UK to give this book a go - you won't be disappointed. While of course the various cases discussed were British, many of them were very recent 'scandals' which were reported far and wide in the English-language press.
SB has a great punchy style of writing, but Chapter 2 proves that they're not just a one trick pony. This chapter looks at the cases of Charlie Gard and Alfie Evans, two very young children where hospitals sought Orders to administer palliative care. Many people will remember the horrendous media storm which dragged in, amongst others, Donald Trump and the Pope. This chapter is really the stand out of the book and shows SB at their best. Infused with kindness towards the grieving parents, SB lambasts the special interest groups who latched on to the parents and the media (not only tabloids) and politicians of various stripes that encouraged and fanned the flames of the furore.
For me, the reiteration of some of the first principles of tort or the ECtHR were a little redundant (as of course we follow many of the same principles in Irish law) however I would certainly recommend this book for a prospective law student - not only are the cases discussed contemporary and interesting, SB is excellent at breaking down complex areas of law back to basics.
SB finishes with a serious of somewhat loose suggestions on what can be done to aid the generally terrible understanding the public (and politicians) have of the law. Only a few pages are devoted to this and it is perhaps the weakest part of the book. I actually thought the suggestion that new MPs entering Parliament should attend mandatory law courses an excellent one - I don't understand why SB walked that back!
Overall, this book is a truly excellent and prescient popular law book and I will be pressing it into many, many hands. SB is firmly established as an 'instant buy' author for me.
yumteezers's review
4.0
Whilst mostly UK-centric, it breaks down the myths and false narratives about the legal system that has perpetuated the media headlines (across print, television and social media) throughout the years. These manipulation of facts has resulted in politicians and the general public alike, misconstruing the true intentions of the law and what it is meant to uphold and further promoting misinformation around immigration, human rights and ignores reasonings made behind so-called “controversial judicial decisions”.
This book is incredibly well-researched and explains our legal system in simple and easy to understand concepts without assuming prior knowledge or having to resort to complex legal jargon. The writer is both witty and knowledgeable about the topics in which they speak for, and whilst it can be cynical at times, it is very reflective review of how dangerous media manipulation can be, especially in our current political climate. It’s a strong critique of how the media -as the fourth estate- has failed to act accordingly and within reason on many occasions and the fallout of it on a societal level.
The only reason I’ve refrained from rating it a full 5 stars is the emotional reaction I personally had to learning this information and having to step back many times from the book to recenter and digest my thoughts before coming back to it. It’s a trying read, but would definitely recommend if you want to challenge your own prejudices (if any). It SHOULD make you angry and it SHOULD upset you.
This book is incredibly well-researched and explains our legal system in simple and easy to understand concepts without assuming prior knowledge or having to resort to complex legal jargon. The writer is both witty and knowledgeable about the topics in which they speak for, and whilst it can be cynical at times, it is very reflective review of how dangerous media manipulation can be, especially in our current political climate. It’s a strong critique of how the media -as the fourth estate- has failed to act accordingly and within reason on many occasions and the fallout of it on a societal level.
The only reason I’ve refrained from rating it a full 5 stars is the emotional reaction I personally had to learning this information and having to step back many times from the book to recenter and digest my thoughts before coming back to it. It’s a trying read, but would definitely recommend if you want to challenge your own prejudices (if any). It SHOULD make you angry and it SHOULD upset you.