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Fake Law

The Truth About Justice in an Age of Lies

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Fake Law

By: The Secret Barrister
Narrated by: Jack Hawkins
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About this listen

THE TOP TEN SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

Could the courts really order the death of your innocent baby? Was there an illegal immigrant who couldn't be deported because he had a pet cat? Are unelected judges truly enemies of the people?

Most of us think the law is only relevant to criminals, if we even think of it at all. But the law touches every area of our lives: from intimate family matters to the biggest issues in our society.

Our unfamiliarity is dangerous because it makes us vulnerable to media spin, political lies and the kind of misinformation that frequently comes from loud-mouthed amateurs and those with vested interests. This 'fake law' allows the powerful and the ignorant to corrupt justice without our knowledge – worse, we risk letting them make us complicit.

Thankfully, the Secret Barrister is back to reveal the stupidity, malice and incompetence behind many of the biggest legal stories of recent years. In Fake Law, the Secret Barrister debunks the lies and builds a defence against the abuse of our law, our rights and our democracy that is as entertaining as it is vital.

 Law Professionals & Academics True Crime White Collar & Corporate Crime Funny Witty

Critic Reviews

Well written, both punchy and providing concise explanations of complex laws . . . a powerful polemic that also acts as a primer about our legal rights (Rosamund Urwin)
The Secret Barrister mounts a powerful defence of lawyers and the law from their noisy detractors . . . this is an urgent and highly readable book. You will come away from it feeling that your mind has been purged (Thomas Grant)
Fake Law is a compelling, eye-opening read and should act as a wake-up call for anyone with an interest in how the law, and, by extension, society and justice function – that is to say, every one of us. (Huston Gilmore)
The authority of this author is in the sheer quality of the writing. To keep up to this standard in tweet after tweet, blogpost after blogpost, and now book after book is remarkable – especially if, as the author tells us, they do all this in addition to a busy and stressful criminal practice
I enjoyed reading this book. It is well-written and informative and the SB is right to lament the levels of public ignorance about the way the system works. (Philip Johnston)
This is not the easiest book you will read this summer. But it will be one of the most educational and alarming
A defence of the legal system and exposé of agenda-driven politicians, click-hungry tabloid editors and powerful corporate interests who persuade us that the system is stacked in favour of criminals and the undeserving. In fact, the resulting changes to the law mean our own rights – for example, to legal aid – are being quietly eroded
A much-needed book that looks at some of the biggest myths behind the legal system. Fans of the Secret Barrister will be pleased with the latest instalment, which offers well-written insight, making difficult-to-understand laws clearer with interesting and current case studies. (Megan Baynes)
The anonymous campaigning lawyer returns with a myth-busting new book that takes on the many detractors of the law and legal profession.
All stars
Most relevant
20 years ago Murdoch and his minions were flag carriers for democracy as the United States and it allies prepared for the invasion of Iraq. Now they're undermining it's very foundations. As The Secret Barrister shows the ignorance of the legal system is undermining the very institutions established to protect us, and guarantee our freedoms, which the Murdoch press has attacked relentlessly.

A great example of why legal studies needs to be incorporated into education.

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Most of the book was debunking a range of right wing & click bait myths about the court system. It’s quite basic and almost condescending, not nearly as good as the other 2 books by this author.

Not very interesting

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