Amazon.fr :Commentaires en ligne: The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It's Broken (English Edition)

Trier par

Filtrer par

Filtré par

4 étoilesEffacer un filtre

1 039 évaluations au total, 86 avec avis

Un problème s'est produit lors du filtrage des commentaires. Veuillez réessayer ultérieurement.

Traduire tous les commentaires en français

Depuis France

D’autres pays

P. Brooks

Only the Half of it!

Commenté au Royaume-Uni le 14 juin 2019

Achat vérifié

This is a passionate critique of the "Justice" System in the UK. It is well written and I learned a lot. But, in truth, it is only the half of it! The author seems to believe that pouring more money into the system will solve the terrible slippage of standards and injustices that are now rampant throughout every part of British Law ranging from the Police, through Solicitors and Barristers, to the Judiciary and up to the House of Lords, who today mostly consist of corrupt Has-been Party Hacks.
More money may help, but the system is so corroded that it is unlikely to help much, and could make it worse in some respects. The Writer talks of the conscientious men and women who are doing their best in a failing Establishment. I am sure some must exist, but the Author seems oblivious of how pervasive the concept of "Guilty until proven innocent," has become at every level within the Courts, and how obsequious lawyers apparently have to be towards judges in order to protect their careers.
In '97 I was prosecuted for going through a red light. The Duty Solicitor assured me I would be let off with a warning because the light had stuck on red. The Copper who booked me at least had the integrity to say I had proceeded through a stuck light, and did so with great care. Prosecutor was a decent fellow, and did ask that I be let off with a warning. The Judge was incredibly rude to the female Duty Solicitor (visibly crushing her) and to me. He also testified against me from the Bench (a really serious judicial offence), thereby also effectively calling both the Prosecutor and the Copper who booked me liars, and he fined me a vast sum. (The Prosecutor sought me out afterwards o apologise.)
This Judge later rose high in the ranks of the Judiciary and several police officers confirmed to me that he was a Bully and well known for erratic judgements; moreover, a couple of them said he was corrupt.
The consequence of this was I, a lay person, determined to learn enough law to defend myself in future. I began to visit the Courts and sit in the Public Gallery during mostly lessor, i.e., minor criminal or traffic infringement Trials. I am appalled at the farce of so-called justice in Britain today. The attitude that the Defendant is guilty until he/she proves herself innocent is almost universal. Solicitors in general and Duty Solicitors in particular, do nothing to make the Prosecution prove their claim. (It is a fundamental of Law that he who makes the claim must prove the claim.) Prosecutors regularly twist that against the Defendant to get the poor ignorant schmuck to claim he/she is innocent—so prove it! A Defence Barrister is supposed to put a stop to that nonsense, and point out that the Prosecution is making a prior claim of guilt—so prove it. I don't know about the higher courts, but this rarely happens in the lower courts.
I was lucky that both the policeman who booked me, and the prosecutor were honest. From the Public Gallery, I have witnessed clear and blatant lying by law enforcement officers which the Defence never challenged and Judges ignored. These behaviours have been so pervasive in my experience, that it must be universal - yet although the Secret Barrister touches on it, the Author appears to recoil. It is a burning coal too hot to handle for the Secret Barrister.
Throwing more money at the Justice System won't solve this form of corrosion. Unfortunately, I don't have any good suggestions of what will — but awareness helps, and a Defendant who is prepared to politely but firmly stand up for himself against the all too deliberate intimidation, including 'Contempt of Court' threats from the Bench, is far more likely to prevail than if he depends on a Duty Solicitor/ legal Aid.
It is necessary to have a good grasp of Civil and Criminal Rules of Procedure. Courts—rightly—will not give any leeway to self-representing Defendants who breach the Rules; but the Profession is often lax about enforcing Rules of Procedure against its own.
These are all aspects of the corrosion missed by The Secret Barrister. One does not have to be a fan of Tommy Robinson or Julian Assange to be concerned at several egregious abuses of Procedure by the Crown—even in the high public profile actions against these two Personalities. Abuses are even more common in 'low-profile' cases. Personally, I would never go to court as a Defendant nowadays, without arranging for several friends to attend as witnesses in the Public Gallery. Court Reporters should be a bulwark against abuses but, for reasons best known to themselves, seldom are. People often ask: 'What can we do to protect our diminishing freedoms?'
A good start would be to allocate some time to visiting courts and sitting in the usually empty Public Gallery as an observer. I have noted—Assange & Co., notwithstanding—Judges tend to be noticeably more diligent about their duties when seats in the Public Gallery are occupied by silent, well-dressed people. Judges have often sent the Usher to grill me as to who I am and why I am there. I smile and decline to be drawn, saying only that 'I am an interested observer.' It is amusing to watch the confused and nervous reactions such a response elicits.

18 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Traduire les commentaires en Français

PauloMunich

Interesting

Commenté au Royaume-Uni le 5 septembre 2018

Achat vérifié

The subtitle of the book 'stories of the law and how it is broken' is misleading. If you are expecting Rumpole of the Bailey type stories you are going to be very disappointed. The book first describes the English legal system from a beginner's point of view. I think most people don't realise that most of the magistrates in England (also known as Justices of the Peace) have no legal education - it seems strange that we entrust decisions about the law to those without detailed knowledge of it. It goes on to explain what the author regards as the inadequacies of the system - mainly due to government cutbacks. He does rant rather a lot about the same things and it becomes a bit repetitive. He also claims that barristers are poorly paid, which seems hard to believe. He also undeservedly accuses one magistrate of being racist for pointing out a worrying problem facing the UK (page 59). It's not an exciting read but you will probably learn something.

10 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Traduire les commentaires en Français

Tibblington

A lesson for all sixth formers but not the English.

Commenté au Royaume-Uni le 22 mars 2020

Achat vérifié

This book should be required reading for all young sixth form students certainly for those considering a career in the law and ultimately becoming a barrister. The author goes into great detail of the workings of the courts in respect of criminal law and civil law. For anyone having an interest in this respect, I would recommend it. He highlights the weaknesses of the underfunded and under staffed Crown Prosecution Service which often has unfortunate consequences. However for all of his criticisms he considers the British justice systems as usually trying to administer fairness whilst not always getting the right result.
Whilst I enjoyed the book I have one criticism and that is that the author uses some very long sentences which in some cases, needed reading more than once to gain the full meaning that was intended. I could just imagine him giving a summing up at the end of a prosecution or a defence with long interjected sentences. Shorter sentences have more impact.
Lost a star because of the awkward sentences.

Une personne a trouvé cela utile

Traduire les commentaires en Français

Natalie James

The secret barrister

Commenté au Royaume-Uni le 5 juin 2020

Achat vérifié

I sent this to a friend in Chicago have been reading this book whilst in lockdown. I’m not going to lie. We both felt like this was a slow read. There were some really interesting parts and it does go into details about the justice system as someone from the Uk I would have never have even thought about or noticed. He learnt a lot too. As someone from outside the UK. I wouldn’t like to say whether I would recommend it because that’s the heat thing about books. It’s your choice whether it interests you or not.

Une personne a trouvé cela utile

Traduire les commentaires en Français

Ms. IM Burton

Really enjoyed this

Commenté au Royaume-Uni le 28 novembre 2020

Achat vérifié

Having some very basic legal knowledge from my degree, I really enjoyed this. I mean I was really horrified to find out how the system abandons the unjustly accused, or those who are 'lucky' enough not to qualify for legal aid.

Loved the way that the author is clearly comfortable moving from articulate legalese to a normal rough and ready voice.

But my favourite part was definitely the references to 'Killing in the Name Of'. I really hope I'm not the only one to pick up on that ;)

Traduire les commentaires en Français

Mr R Haldenby

Maybe a little technical for me, but very informative.

Commenté au Royaume-Uni le 22 mai 2019

Achat vérifié

It certainly raises a few eyebrows!! We always think the justice system is fair and just, but we do not believe its so unjust in support of the average person. The CPS is highlighted as dysfunctional and maybe a little frightening. The public deserves better. The writer is quite right to make us aware of the courts problems and issues, especially in the Magistrates Courts. Who knew?!!

Une personne a trouvé cela utile

Traduire les commentaires en Français

ulbrich

A revealing insight

Commenté au Royaume-Uni le 25 janvier 2021

Achat vérifié

The intriguing question left with me after finishing this book is what the gender of the author is. My youngest daughter who also read the book and who is a lawyer thought the anonymous writer was male while I thought female. No matter. This is a revealing book about the practice of English law and one can see why the author chose to remain anonymous. Well worth reading, and hopefully someone from the Scottish legal scene will offer us here north of the border a companion piece.

Traduire les commentaires en Français

LegalBeagle

Should be mandatory reading for all English people.

Commenté au Royaume-Uni le 27 juillet 2021

Achat vérifié

This is for the copy of the book I received which had been previously sold for 50p in Oxfam and I paid I believe £3.99 for. Not a brilliant copy.

I have worked in the Criminal justice system in England and it is a very accurate portrayal. Post Covid, what will happen I don't know but I doubt it will improve.

I believe this book should be mandatory reading for everyone in England. The law and justice are two very different thing and we deserve better from a Criminal justice system which ultimately we pay for.

Traduire les commentaires en Français

Jayjay

Eye opener

Commenté au Royaume-Uni le 4 juillet 2020

Achat vérifié

Interesting read, talks a lot about the existing system and how minor inconveniences and simple mistakes made by professionals can seriously affect their processes and that this needs to be reviewed carefully. It's a different prespective of how legal information is handled and dealt with, and quite frankly an eye opner.

Traduire les commentaires en Français

James Parker

Good book for law students

Commenté au Royaume-Uni le 26 juin 2019

Achat vérifié

I am currently doing my Law degree and this was extremely insightful into the world I am training to get into. The language and vocabulary can be a little difficult for some people, I read a sentence to my girlfriend as an example, she just looked at me blankly and said "what did you just say?"

Nevertheless, it was a good read for someone interested in this area and not at all boring. The author did a good job of explaining things for people with a lesser understanding of the legal system, so this could also be a very good introduction to the inside workings of the judicial system for someone wanting to learn.

Traduire les commentaires en Français

Avez-vous besoin du service clients? Cliquez ici

‹ Voir tous les détails sur The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It's Broken...

Informations sur les commentaires et leur contrôle

5 étoiles		68%
4 étoiles		17%
3 étoiles		9%
2 étoiles		3%
1 étoile		3%

Amazon Music Écoutez des millions de chansons	AbeBooks Livres, art & articles de collection	Amazon Web Services Services de Cloud Computing Flexibles	Audible Livres audio télécharger	Book Depository Livres expédiés dans le monde entier

Kindle Direct Publishing Auto-publiez facilement vos livres au format numérique	Offres Reconditionnées Bonnes affaires	Shopbop Vêtements de Marque & Mode	Amazon Advertising Ciblez, attirez et fidélisez vos clients	Amazon Business Paiement 30 jours. Hors TVA. Pour les professionnels.

Choisir vos préférences en matière de cookies

The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It's Broken...

›

Commentaires client

Commentaires client

The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It's Broken (English Edition)

Filtré par

Un problème s'est produit lors du filtrage des commentaires. Veuillez réessayer ultérieurement.

Depuis France

D’autres pays

Choisir vos préférences en matière de cookies

The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It's Broken... › Commentaires client

Commentaires client

The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It's Broken (English Edition)

Filtré par

Un problème s'est produit lors du filtrage des commentaires. Veuillez réessayer ultérieurement.

Depuis France

D’autres pays

The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It's Broken...

›

Commentaires client