“Mixes the excitement of the courtroom and some practical tips on the advocacy with the more mundane life of the working lawyer'”

NO MAJOR SPOILERS

Under the Wig: A Lawyer’s Stories of Murder, Guilt and Innocence by William Clegg QC (Queen’s Counsel) is an autobiography (of sorts) by a defence lawyer in the UK. From his training to his days in court, Clegg lays out his career in this intriguing book.

In alternate chapters throughout the book, Clegg recounts his career and the field of law in general, alongside some of the most interesting cases he’s worked on. In the chapters about real-life cases, William Clegg tells the reader about a variety of defendants he’s worked with including; the first UK Nazi war criminal trial (which caused Clegg to become a ‘go-to guy’ for similar cases) and the man accused of murdering of Jill Dando – many readers will remember reading about her death and the investigation in the news.

In fact, many of the cases Clegg writes about in his book will already be familiar to readers including; the murder of Joanna Yates and The Rebekah Brooks Phone Hacking Trial – which, told through the eyes of the defence lawyer, allows the reader a unique angle at which to see these cases.

Following the success, The Secret Barrister, this book may be your perfect next read if you’re looking for something similar. A great book for anyone with a thirst for detailed crime stories and complex criminal cases, or anyone interested in the field of law. However, parts of the book may come across as a little dry to those with a more developed knowledge of the law as Clegg explains many elements along the way to ensure that even the most inexperienced reader will be able to follow.

 

Reviewed by:

Catherine Muxworthy, Booksbirdblog

Added 30th January 2020

More Reviews By
Catherine Muxworthy