‘Defending the Guilty’ by Alex McBride is a book I choose to read and review as a result of my desire to gain some insight into the life as a criminal Barrister, and while it seems a little out-dated as a result of McBride training years before how it happens now, it is still a fascinating read and it is not entirely so different as far as I can tell, so it provides a well thought out viewpoint from someone who has done it all and seen it all. It is a book that seems to focus quite strongly on the attributes required to succeed in the profession, but I won’t ruin his good advice by taking it out of context and ruining it for you. The first few chapters of the book will take you through (among his pupilage days) a succinct history of the English Legal system, and compare it to other countries methods of justice. All this is done with strong, humorous and likeable narrative which draws you through the book, and is actually very informative as well as being enjoyable.
Put simply, if you are planning on joining the ranks of the criminal bar, or are considering it, then this book is an essential, and speaking from personal experience it is more enjoyable than other accounts of life at the bar. If you just want a good read (and especially if you are doing law) then it is also a worthy way to spend a few hours.

Lord Bingham is a name so well known in the legal profession that any book with his name attached to it is going to be credited with due respect, he has sat in all the great positions in the legal world and shaped many cases as any law student will know. His book ‘The Rule of Law’ takes us through some of those cases, listing what he finds to be some of the greatest moments for the Rule of Law, with his detailed perspective on them. There is little history between these events he describes.
He takes the reader through what he sees the Rule of Law to be and where it may have originated from, before exploring the examples he provides. This makes the book accessible to anyone with an interest in our legal system (and occasionally others that exist) while still maintaining a different depth for anyone with background knowledge in legal study, which I imagine will be and has been the main audience for this read.
As one of the most influential and well known Lords to sit in the House of Lords his perspective on the legal world and what shapes it as it is, and what it should be, and if it is that, is a read I would recommend to anyone studying a law degree. It brings an important perspective that should not be missed, from one of the most eminent legal minds of our time.