Includes bibliographical references.

Introduction: My opening speech -- Welcome to the criminal courtroom -- The wild West : the magistrates' court -- Watching the guilty walk free : prosecuting on the cheap -- The devil's greatest trick : putting the victim first -- Defenceless and indefensible -- Legal aid myths and the innocence tax -- Trial on trial : part I : the case again -- Trial on trial : part II : the case against defence -- The big sentencing con -- The courage of our convictions : appeal -- My closing speech.

'An anonymous barrister writes a powerfully honest, provocative and moving first-hand account of life in the legal system and how it's failing us all "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 ten years who 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 first-hand 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.