header-logo header-logo

28 January 2022 / Alec Samuels
Issue: 7964 / Categories: Features , Profession , In Court
printer mail-detail

Book review: Second Helpings

"Lord Brown has clear views on the law and the legal institutions"

Author: Simon Brown

Publisher: Marble Hill Publishers Ltd

ISBN: 9781838303617

RRP: £18


Simon Brown is one of those exceptionally gifted people who confidently, positively and relaxedly get on with life and make a success of it: Bar, Treasury Counsel, Judge, Lord Justice, Justice of the Supreme Court. His text is simple, lucid, readable, but full of subtlety; and rich in anecdotes and self-deprecating stories—this is a second volume of memoirs, following the success of the first, Playing off the Roof & Other Stories. Many colleagues are mentioned, familiar names in the law, but always gently and with discretion.

Lord Brown has clear views on the law and the legal institutions. Naturally advocacy, best learned by watching and listening, is discussed. The greatly diminished role of the Lord Chancellor is much regretted. The Supreme Court should be reduced to nine members, sitting en banc (presumably with a reduced docket), carrying more authority. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Womble Bond Dickinson—Paula Myers

Womble Bond Dickinson—Paula Myers

Womble Bond Dickinson appoints Paula Myers to private capital team in Leeds

mfg Solicitors—five promotions

mfg Solicitors—five promotions

Law firm mfg Solicitors announces five promotions at Birmingham office

Brabners—six promotions

Brabners—six promotions

Brabners adds six to partnership in record year for partner promotions

NEWS
Calls to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 have been renewed, with the Bar Council arguing the current threshold criminalises children too early and risks pushing them towards lifelong offending
The legal profession's AI challenge extends far beyond fabricated case citations, according to a warning about the next phase of technological risk
Law firms should use the transition period before the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumes anti-money laundering (AML) supervision to strengthen governance and compliance, experts have warned
Cross-border disputes increasingly demand creative approaches to gathering evidence, with litigators needing to look beyond traditional letters of request
A Court of Appeal ruling has clarified the distinction between contracts of 'indefinite' and 'perpetual' duration, with potentially significant implications for commercial drafting
back-to-top-scroll