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  • Fake Law

  • The Truth About Justice in an Age of Lies
  • By: The Secret Barrister
  • Narrated by: Jack Hawkins
  • Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,190 ratings)
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Fake Law

By: The Secret Barrister
Narrated by: Jack Hawkins
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Summary

The top 10 sunday times best seller.

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 other 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 an hilarious, alarming and eye-opening defence against the abuse of our law, our rights and our democracy.

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

©2020 The Secret Barrister (P)2020 Macmillan Publishers International Ltd

What listeners say about Fake Law

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    5 out of 5 stars

An important analysis of current justice

I’ve felt that the present government, more than any I have experienced, has been eroding democracy and our rights as citizens and is moving toward political appointments to the judiciary, aided by the mainstream media and far-right agitators. This is a timely analysis of recent events and the acceptance by many people of dubious political actions. Few of us know much about the law, including many prominent politicians. A catchy headline wins out over respect for the rule of law, “facts” often turn out to be misrepresentation or downright lies.
This is not a dull book, and is presented with passion tempered by reason.

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33 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent, very thought provoking, didn’t disappoint

Binge listened to this book which I really enjoyed. A great run through some of the most ridiculous and depressing episodes in legal reporting with a good measure of dry humour. Would heartily recommend.

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20 people found this helpful

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Well written & well read.

Cogent and insightful. The Secret Barrister demonstrates a wide reach and secure grasp of difficult problems. They have an enviable ability to make the complex issues accessable for those not legally trained.

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19 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Identity should be revealed!

Apologist heart on sleeve rotten rant. Views spun in a way the author is critical of throughout this pompous naive tosh. Please reveal who you are just in case I need representation in the future and can decline ur services. Have to confess I enjoyed the secret barrister but this a personal subjective trawl through recent topics of the authors choosing leaving no doubt which side of the political divide they are from. Not much legal perspective is evident just the need to make their point again again and monotonously again. Will not be subjecting myself to any future titles from the same pen

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18 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A fantastic 'must listen' from beginning to end

Much like the first Secret Barrister installment, this is a truly excellent opus. We delude and comfort ourselves in thinking that we'll never come into contact with the justice system and it is, therefore, not something we need to concern ourselves with. We should. God help us if we find ourselves the wrong side of the tracks thanks to constant meddling by politicians, the media and the infamous "court of public opinion". Churchill's view on democracy immediately springs to mind in this regard.

A great narrator, guides us through this funny, informative and frightening work with great skill.

This is a must for anyone interested in law, liberty or the justice system. Highly recommended!

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12 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

Second startling volume from the Caped Crusader

This is the follow up to the Secret Barrister's 2018 book Stories of the Law and How It's Broken. In this second tome, we hear from our Caped Crusader how media spin creates a false impression of the law and the theme is misinformation in our justice system. We learn how many form their opinion on the UK justice system from what they have read, or heard regurgitated from, the frothier wing of our tabloid press. Many of our politicians either deliberately do not understanding or are simply un-informed about how justice works and legal aid in particular has become a focus for reform and there is a growing trend for the press and pressure groups trying to influence judges regarding sentencing. Legal aid budgets have been a soft target for cuts from all parties in recent years and the author explains the devastating impact this is having and how many of the most vulnerable people in society are no longer able to afford justice.

Our mysterious author rallies against the erosion of human rights and how there is a common perception that the European Court of Human Rights is biased against the UK and goes to prove that it is not and gives examples of several high profile cases where justice has been restored to UK citizens that would not have been achieved through the UK courts.
Reading / listening to this book it is shocking how much disinformation there is regarding our justice system. The legal system needs to be open, transparent and accessible and is owned by all who have a stake in it. The author asks why any government would want its citizens to have fewer rights. There is certainly need for more education regarding the mechanisms of how justice works in the UK and I would recommend anyone who is interested in this subject should read this book.

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8 people found this helpful

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A Polemic but an important one

Make no mistake: this is a polemic. It's about how a lawyer deep in the heart of the system views the undermining of rights of citizens to a fair trial and how the media and politicians come together to misrepresent events in the courts to serve their own agendas.

It betrays two important and pressing issues: that the "general public" does not really understand the importance of an independent judiciary, and that politicians (of all stripes, but particularly those in government) are willing to subsume their own understanding of the importance of the separation of powers in the service of popular opinion and play to the gallery. The role of the media in (mis)presenting events in our courts is described in some detail.

The other important theme is access to justice, and how huge budget cuts have made access to justice a very expensive commodity where only the rich can afford to defend themselves or pursue civil remedies. Even in criminal cases access to funding to mount an effective defence is compromised by the cuts to legal aid.

I note that other reviewers reject his/her conclusions and scream bias. I don't see that: I see someone howling into the void as our judicial system is deeply harmed. It could be you, s/he says: I hope it won't be.

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2 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Disappointing

Angry narration doesn’t inspire trust in the authors arguments or appeal to anyone isn’t already on message. It’s a distraction from what I’m sure are many good points.

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1 person found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars

Sadly repetitive

Had some interesting facts and is well read, but it repeats itself a lot and keeps on referencing/repeating the first book of the author, so not much new presented in the grand scheme. Disappointing for someone who loved the first book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Cutting, Damning, Absolutely Essential Reading

to apply superlatives to this book would be darkly humorous. Its subject matter us equally sobering, frightening and infuriating. That said, this book is a wonderful and courageous trealise on the icreasigly poisonous interplay between the press, government and the law.

Any and all would be greatly enriched by reading it.

yes - it is flawed, as all this of this nature always are. On balance and accepting a degree of subjectivity, there is a great deal on offer here.

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1 person found this helpful