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28 January 2022 / Alec Samuels
Issue: 7964 / Categories: Features , Profession , In Court
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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

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Partner joins commercial property team in Taunton office

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Londstanding London firm appoints new senior partner

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Commercial team in London welcomes technology specialist as partner

NEWS
What safeguards apply when trust corporations are appointed as deputy by the Court of Protection? 
Disputing parties are expected to take part in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), where this is suitable for their case. At what point, however, does refusing to participate cross the threshold of ‘unreasonable’ and attract adverse costs consequences?
When it comes to free legal advice, demand massively outweighs supply. 'Millions of people are excluded from access to justice as they don’t have anywhere to turn for free advice—or don’t know that they can ask for help,' Bhavini Bhatt, development director at the Access to Justice Foundation, writes in this week's NLJ
When an ex-couple is deciding who gets what in the divorce or civil partnership dissolution, when is it appropriate for a third party to intervene? David Burrows, NLJ columnist and solicitor advocate, considers this thorny issue in this week’s NLJ
NLJ's latest Charities Appeals Supplement has been published in this week’s issue
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