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  • The Secret Barrister

  • Stories of the Law and How It's Broken
  • By: The Secret Barrister
  • Narrated by: Jack Hawkins
  • Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (6,639 ratings)

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The Secret Barrister

By: The Secret Barrister
Narrated by: Jack Hawkins
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Summary

An anonymous barrister's darkly comic and moving first-hand account of life in the legal system, and how it's failing us all.

The Sunday Times number one bestseller.

Winner of the Books are My Bag Non-Fiction Award.

Shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year.

Shortlisted for Specsavers Non-Fiction Book of the Year.

You may not wish to think about it, but one day you or someone you love will almost certainly appear in a criminal courtroom. You might be a juror, a victim, a witness or – perhaps through no fault of your own – a defendant. Whatever your role, you’d expect a fair trial.

I’m a barrister. I work in the criminal justice system, and every day I see how fairness is not guaranteed. Too often the system fails those it is meant to protect. The innocent are wronged and the guilty allowed to walk free.

In The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It's Broken I want to share some stories from my daily life to show you how the system is broken, who broke it and why we should start caring before it’s too late.

A Sunday Times top ten bestseller for twenty-four weeks.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2018 The Secret Barrister (P)2018 Macmillan Digital Audio
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Critic reviews

'Eye-opening, damning and hilarious' – Tim Shipman, author of All Out War and Fall Out

‘Eye-opening, funny and horrifying’ – Observer

‘Everyone who has any interest in public life should read it’ – Daily Mail

What listeners say about The Secret Barrister

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    3 out of 5 stars

ok... not great

A good insight into the workings of the CPS. if you have an interest in the inner workings of law then this book is for you

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Reads like a funny legal textbook

The trials (pun intended) of the English and Welsh court "justice" system are laid out in an entertaining voice and interspersed with a mixture of shocking, mundane, harrowing and tragic anecdotes. It's not the easiest of reads as the author has to explain a complicated legal system but it is worth it in order to get an insight into how the law and justice really works in Wales and the UK today.

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A fascinating insight into the justice system

An eye opening and at times worrying venture into the complex legal and judicial systems, brilliant writing and easy on the ear narration. Very much recommended.

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Absolutely wonderful

Highly recommended. Shocking eye opening saddening heart warming are only a few words that this book can be described as.

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Non stop listening

Gripping and educational. Excellently read! We should all know much more about our judicial system; it could be you one day.

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Remarkable

This book is an enlightening education into a profession most think they understand. It dissembles the PR spewing out of parliament and challenges the notion that justice is always delivered. Highly recommended 👍🏻

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Insightful

The narrator brings to life this witty and interesting book.
The book is humorous at points but largely paints the picture of a criminal justice system in crisis. The book doesn't use hyperbole but rather gives a detailed analysis of how public policy has impacted the UK's ability to have a functioning justice system.

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We need urgent reform in our broken legal system!

This informative book describes eye opening shocking failures in our broken legal system - ones that could catch any of us out at any time, whether we are innocent or guilty!

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Very informative and well written

Great book. I've never really got my head around our criminal justice system very well before but the secret barrister lays it out in very simple terms and lets you know the real story behind poisonous tripe our media drip feeds us every day.

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Eye opener

Before reading this book I’ll be honest, I had very little idea about the justice system, this book has opened my eyes to it, let’s hope I never get in the shit either through my own errors or by some sort of mistaken identity. Well read and great effort to the author for voicing these topics. Really enjoyed the book

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