Leducate Recommends… Legal Reads
The team at Leducate have put their heads together to come up with a list of their favourite legal books that they would recommend for aspiring law students or anyone with a legal interest. There are a vast amount of books with a legal element to them, both fiction and nonfiction, so there should be plenty to catch your interest.
If you have any favourites we’ve missed, let us know in the comments below!
Here are 8 of our favourites:
Non-fiction:
In Black and White by Alexandra Wilson
‘A Young Barrister’s Story of Race and Class in a Broken Justice System’
What we liked: An exceptionally good memoir of a junior barrister’s path to the Bar. Gives an insight into the obstacles she faced along the way. An excellent reminder that a diverse legal system that is more reflective of society is a better one.
The book explains terms known within the legal community (GDL, mini-pupillage, pupillage etc.) so would be accessible for those unfamiliar with the legal world.
The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It’s Broken / Fake Law
What we like: Challenges a lot of misconceptions about the legal system and gives an insight into the effects of underfunding.
A critical first-hand account of the state of the criminal justice system.
Nuremberg Diary by Gustave Gilbert
What we like: Gilbert, an American prison psychologist, provides us with a firsthand account of the Nazi war criminals at their Nuremberg trial. He records their day-to day interactions, their emotions before and after different parts of the trials, giving us a chillingly intimate insight into these Nazi leaders.
Guilty until Proven Innocent: The Crisis in our Justice System by Jon Robins
What we like: We often hear about miscarriages of justice in other countries but fail to remember that they happen in the UK. This book follows a number of cases throughout and provides an insight into the fact that a miscarriage of justice is analogous not to a car crash but a ‘motorway pile-up’ of repeated failures.
Plus, this book was found on the shelves of a local library.
Enemies of the People? How Judges Shape Society by Joshua Rozenberg
What we liked: In what seems an increasingly legalised world Rozenberg looks at one of the most debated legal questions; what is the role of judges in making law? The book evaluates key cases in the last century, where the judiciary has arguably created new law.
Whilst it tackles some complex legal issues, it does so in a surprisingly accessible way, making it suitable for anyone with an interest in the area, not just legal professionals.
For more information check out our full review!
Eve Was Framed: Women and British Justice by Helena Kennedy
What we liked: How women, the role of women and the legal system has interacted and often to the detriment of women.
An eye-opening analysis of the disadvantages that women face in the criminal justice system.
Credit: BBC
Fiction:
Fiction novels can also explore legal themes and ideas, and the few below are some that we found particularly thrilling and thought-provoking.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
What we liked: A thought-provoking classic novel that features a legal storyline.
The Street Lawyer by John Grisham:
What we liked: Featuring a lawyer who switches up a big firm to becoming an advocate for the homeless after an encounter with a homeless man. A novel that keeps the reader captivated from start to finish.
Though based in the US Grisham novels have an interesting legal storyline.
Some of the older Grisham books can often be found in a second-hand bookshop or charity shop too.
We also recommend The Guardians, A Time to Kill and The Chamber.
Collated by Brittany Buckell
Disclaimer: Any books that feature legal cases can centre on some difficult topics. We recommend these books for those aged 16-18 (dependent on the individual and the book).