'I’m a barrister, a job which requires the skills of a social worker, relationship counsellor, arm twister, hostage negotiator, named driver, bus fare provider, accountant, suicide watchman, coffee supplier, surrogate parent and, on one memorable occasion, whatever the official term is for someone tasked with breaking the news to a prisoner that his girlfriend has been diagnosed with gonorrhoea.'

Welcome to the world of the Secret Barrister. These are the stories of life inside the courtroom. They are sometimes funny, often moving and ultimately life-changing.

How can you defend a child abuser you suspect to be guilty? What do you say to someone sentenced to 10 years whom you believe to be innocent? What is the law, and why do we need it?

And why do they wear those stupid wigs?

From the criminals to the lawyers, the victims, witnesses and officers of the law, here is the best and worst of humanity, all struggling within a broken system which would never be off the front pages if the public knew what it was really like.

Both a searing firsthand account of the human cost of the criminal justice system and a guide to how we got into this mess, The Secret Barrister wants to show you what it’s really like and why it really matters.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio on our desktop site.

Jack Hawkins