Defending the Guilty

by Alex McBride

The official TV tie-in edition of Defending the Guilty

'Terrific, fascinating, very funny' Daily Mail

'Hilarious' Sun

'Gripping' Literary Review

How do we ensure that the guilty are convicted and the innocent walk free?

Shortlisted for the Crime Writers Award Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction, true crime meets humour in Defending the Guilty, a hilariously funny and eye-opening exposé of the criminal justice system.

Every day, criminal barrister Alex McBride stands up in court and attempts to save people from conviction, prison, even a lifetime behind bars. Sometimes it's a hopeless case.

Sometimes he has the chance to right a wrong. But mostly his clients are just plain guilty.

In Defending the Guilty, McBride takes us behind the scenes of Britain's criminal justice system. He introduces us to its extraordinary characters and arcane eccentricities, and tells astonishing stories of courtroom triumph and defeat. Whether he's defending hapless teenagers at Harlow Youth Court or prosecuting gold bullion robbers at the Old Bailey, these hair-raising tales reveal that justice rarely operates in quite the way we expect.

'Expert, authoritative, hilarious - an insider's fearless account of life at the criminal bar' Craig Raine, Times Literary Supplement, Books of the Year

'McBride details his own cock-ups and disasters with the relish of the born humorous writer. Very funny' Daily Mail

'Rollicks along with a good eye for detail and a neat turn of phrase' Observer

'Gripping, engaging, compelling. The real life of criminal barristers is expertly caught' Literary Review

Alex McBride is a criminal barrister. He is the author of the 'Common Law' column in Prospect magazine, has contributed to the New Statesman and various BBC programmes, including From Our Own Correspondent and is the editor of the Famous Trials Penguin Specials series.

Genres: Nonfiction, Law, Memoir, True Crime, Crime, Biography, Legal

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Alex McBride is a barrister.

Reviews

[Petra X · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting vignette into the lives of trainee barristers who live in the basements of law firms only being called up into the light when needed for some menial task. The stories of petty defences in nameless courts were interesting at the time but I've forgotten them now.

Alex reminded me of a politician. Before they get elected for the first time they have fire in their belly, they are going to change the world! Then they get elected and they care only about two things, how much money they can make and how to hang on to the job. So it is with lawyers. Its not that the truth doesn't count anymore, its just that its irrelevant to making money and keeping the job.

I have a lawyer friend, a QC, in litigation not criminal law, and he told me once that which side of the case he takes is according to who gets in through the door with a cheque first. Morals nothing, that's his man!

At the end of this book, Alex's pupillage was over and real life about to begin; nothing in the book led me to think that truth will win out over money and job security.

(Note to the author: I enjoyed your book, but if you think I'm too cynical, write another one after five years experience and let us all see if the tone has changed).

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sodding good account of what life is like for the barrister de la boue. Also informative about the British Justice system, history and current problems, and great stats about how prisons don't deter crime which I'll be trotting out for silver lake trot auditions. Very funny and clever, and honest, sometimes a little too much. Will be cribbing some of the similies.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at the world of law and the criminal justice system.

This was an insightful book, packed with interesting stories and anecdotes from Alex's time as a lawyer in the criminal courtroom.

The book was pretty easy to read. The writing style was engaging and the stories were mostly pretty assuming.

There were some aspects of criminal law that I was already aware of before reading this book but plenty that I wasn't. I definitely learnt a few things from reading this book.

This book was published 12 years ago now, so slightly outdated and some things said in the book were questionable.

However, overall an enjoyable read for anyone who enjoys reading books about law and the criminal justice system.

[Rose]

Although it's written from a different viewpoint, I suggest you read something like Wasting Police Time or Perverting The Course of Justice instead. I was hoping this book would be a similar approach, just from the perspective of a barrister. It's not. McBride comes over as some kind of science-gone-mad mashup of several different types of people.

- The presenters of moronic BBC documentaries that make you want to tear your eyeballs out because of their painfully slow and didactic voiceover, with the universal, "To find out, I went to see blah blah..."

- Rumpole of the Bailey, minus the wit, charm, intelligence, and skill.

- A distant relative who passes on his wisdom to the younger generation at family weddings, boring them stupid with lengthy expositions on his work, complete with unnecessary explanations of the most obvious terminology.

- A poster on an Internet forum who feels it necessary to demonstrate how "in" he is (and how "out" you are) with whatever by using lots of slang terms and jargon, mostly pretty obvious ones, and simultaneously defining them all.

- The person who enjoys spouting their limited repertoire of social theories at dinner parties - generally someone who is very insulated from the kind of social problems about which they are theorising. (McBride seems fixated on how prison is a really horrible, nasty thing and how we would be better all round if hardly anyone went there, and that prisons should be nice cushy places. I accept his point that our prison system has a LOT of problems, but I think he might feel slightly differently if he was a copper or a person living in an inner-city area who really felt the sharp edge of crime. It's pretty damn difficult to get sent to prison in the UK. Even career criminals and violent offenders who destroy lives walk away with laughable community service orders which are ignored, or electronic tags which they put on their dogs. I don't think everything would improve if we stopped giving custodial sentences for even more serious crimes.)

- A Twitter fanatic who thinks that the world at large is really interested in the utterly trivial minutiae of their daily lives. (McBride thinks that his reader is likely to be fascinated by exhaustive details of who in the room he's in is smoking, what is being smoked, how it is being smoked, how many smokeables are being smoked, how frequently new smokeables are lit, the different smoking preferences of the people involved, and so on. This would be boring even if he was talking about people smoking crack out of the plastic tubes single roses come in, while their friends chase the dragon or whatever, and he's just talking about cigarettes.)

- Someone who likes to "educate" you on things they should Wikipedia first. (McBride's description of DNA profiling is inaccurate.)

Unless you particularly enjoy the company (real or virtual) of these types of people, stay away.

[Amanda Asiedu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the only book (or one of the) that I have read an epilogue for. I just wanted to keep reading more and more. I absolutely loved this author, so funny and engaging and informative. Not only was I able to understand the criminal system more but I was also able to smile and chuckle at the pages.

McBride, you’re a genius; I’d love to have you representing me. :)

[Alison S ☯️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this in parts. It flagged a bit for me when discussing the technicalities of DNA evidence or the history of trial by jury, but at other times I found it fascinating and very funny.

[Irma Sincera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amm... Buvo buvo knygoje įdomių detalių ir faktų, bet pats autorius atrodo rašė knygą savo draugeliams, nes daug tokios info, kur tikrai tik jiems gali būti įdomi. Gal geresnis suredagavimas būtų pagelbėjęs, nes viskas pakankamai padrikai, labai neaiškiai vietomis surašyta. Aišku jautėsi, kad knyga parašyta jau senokai ir noriu tikėti, kad kai kurie seksistiniai pasisakymai jau iš autoriaus burnos nebeišskrenda. Trūko žadėto humoro ir sąmojo, buvo daugiau susireikšminimo, labai mažai asmeniškumų, emocijų, paatviravimų ar pažeidžiamumo. Šia tema tikrai yra geresnių knygų (hem hem - Unlawful Killings)

[Suzi]

I absolutely loved this book, it offers a fascinating insight into the legal system which, because it's delivered by a professional is highly informative and realistic. I loved his style: a brilliantly sculpted mix of hilarious anecdote and well explained history or jargon. McBride managed to make me care about him, his clients (even the guilty ones!) and the most boring, annoyingly pointless bits of our legal system. However, and much more importantly he answered the question about what kind of man chooses to defend criminals, especially when he knows they're guilty. This is easily one of the best pieces of non-fiction I have read, it's accessible and about a topic which we should all care about and understand. BRILLIANT BRILLIANT book, even if you don't normally like non-fiction.

[Colin Murtagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're getting this after watching the series on TV, you may well be disappointed. If however you've read something like the secret barrister you'll know exactly what you're getting.

This is follows the author as he starts his Pupillage in chambers in London. He goes through his early cases, starting in Youth courts and Magistrates courts, working up to the high court. This is interspersed with the history of the law in Britain, the evolution of common law, and how the law is designed to work now. As it jumps back and forwards between the history of the law, and his history it means it never feels too heavy.

An entertaining fairly quick read.

[Mike Rynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and amusing look at the career of a Junior Barrister, I enjoyed it and it was educational with regards to legal process too.

[Abbie Dickinson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow is your mysogyny showing Alex McBride.

This book is just a trumped up biography of a privileged prick.

Every woman who enters the story is described on her looks alone. One is described as wearing 'fuck me' heels and he brags in the first couple of chapters about how hot the receptionist is and how he flirts with her all the time. And mentions how he bangs her while drunk. Because we can't miss that out of the story of TRUTH AND LIES TOLD IN A CRIMINAL COURTROOM.

Oh and if that wasn't bad enough let's make sure that we refer to all people working in the criminal justice system as 'he' and make jokes about sexual assault survivors.

One chapter is about Bias in the CJS. He accepts that everyone who works in it has to be middle class or higher, white and male and that people think that makes it biased against people who don't look like them.
But he assures us that it's not biased at all, people just think it is.
The logical conclusion being that the current status quo doesn't need changing at all then?

Jesus wept.

Honestly who gives a monkeys about half of the stuff he talks about. It's all posturing about how he can live off no money living in Central london (presumably because of mummy and daddy) how he has no directions in life and trying to be funny about some really boring cases.

[Rachael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Barristers are horrible people. They are self interested, unprepared; unprofessional, find it hilarious to sell out a client; they break confidentiality for a good story down the pub; they are unconcerned about who you are or what your story it- to you, they are nothing but a win- which they will do at all costs. They are also lazy (afternoon naps); whingers; they only want to to interesting trials (god forbid you are a youth offender) ego-driven and they are obsessed with material gain.

At least that’s how this book portrays them. Half way though I picked up “In your defence” by Sarah Langford to reassure myself that some barristers care about the clients.

This book can’t work out whether it’s a memoir, a history of the courts or a personal rant on the state of the UK justice system- it ends up trying all three.

The author does not present himself in a positive light.

However I nearly gave this a 3 star because the information about the court system has been really useful for my criminology qualification.

I’m sure some will like his style - but I’m not one of them.

[Khalid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes a look at the life of a criminal lawyer in the UK, with various stories about criminal cases and with just the right amount of interesting facts about the history of English law and how today's judicial system came about.

[Victoire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing romp through Pupillage and the English Criminal Courts system ending with a bit of 'the end is nigh for the good old system' and a stab at the coming two-tier justice. Recommended for those who like a chuckle and/or have legal aspirations

[Steve Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sections detailing personal experiences of the author's legal work were far more interesting than the historic sections.

[Judy Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir about the experiences of a young would-be barrister training in one of London’s elite chambers throws light on the workings of the English criminal justice system. Alongside Alex McBride’s own reminiscences of his time as a pupil in the Inns of Court, there are references to key events in the development of the British legal system from Magna Carta through the Court of the Star Chamber right up to recent developments, such as relaxation of the double jeopardy rule and allowing previous convictions to be revealed to the jury.

The rights of defendants have been chipped away gradually in an attempt to increase conviction rates, to speed up the court system and to make the court experience less daunting for victims and witnesses. However, although the changes of recent years have also made prosecution more difficult, through more cases being put in the hands of overworked lawyers employed by the crown prosecution service, rather than employing self-employed barristers.

The picture painted of the criminal courts is of the vast majority of criminals being unfortunates who have slipped into crime at an early age as a result of their circumstances, be that poverty, drug or alcohol dependence, an abusive childhood or mental illness. Public pressure for increased use of imprisonment leads to more offenders being sentenced to spend time in overcrowded prisons with little opportunity for rehabilitation.

I’d heard a lot of this before, but one thing that I was unaware of is the precarious financial position of most criminal barristers, whose self-employed status means that they have no assured income and no pension to look forward to. Fees are routinely delayed for months or even years and work is by no means guaranteed.

Light and humorous, this book is easy-reading but with hard-hitting and full of food for thought.

[Gareth Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This caught my eye in a discount bookshop. It has the same title as the BBC series and my copy made reference to the fact that it was being televised. Strangely, the book and the TV series have little in common aside that they feature barristers. The TV series is a raunchy, over-the-top fiction. The book is an amalgam of history, reminisce and criticisms of policy.

The book covers much the same ground as the later Secret Barrister. Although McBride’s book is a little less serious and more entertaining. Overall, it’s a really interesting and entertaining read despite being published 10 years ago.

[Niamh · Rating 4 out of 5]

So again university took over my life and it took me WAY longer to read this book than I wanted to - however that wasn’t because I didn’t enjoy it.

As a second year law student whilst reading this book, it really gave a good and honest insight into what it’s like in the life of an aspiring criminal barrister.

I really enjoyed how McBride used humour and history to tell his accounts on current events and the inner workings of the criminal justice system. It was just a very good overall read for me.

However, let’s just say I think the route of criminal law has been well and truly kicked off my career aspirations once I graduate🤣

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you start this expecting it to be like the BBC TV series of the same name then you are going to be a bit disappointed.

Yes, there are some interesting and amusing anecdotes about life as a junior barrister, but there's also quite a lot of stuff about the development of, an inadequacies in, the British legal system which at times feels rather too much like filler.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more interesting than I thought it was going to be (!) and I enjoyed getting an insight into the back end of the legal process. I wasn't always sure of the style of writing, but it was generally easy to read & engaging.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were a few funny stories and interesting characters, but some of the legal history and technical things got a bit boring. My main problem was that the author didn't come across as a nice person at all, but maybe that's to be expected.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

McBride leads us through a selection of adventures (and misadventures) in his career as a barrister.

Obviously proud of his career, there I also the inevitable frustration as the law has been politically reformed over the years, making his job harder.

[Jemma Ward-Slack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not hilarious. Not brilliant or funny.
Very disappointed.
Much of the book talked about the history of law/barristers and judges. Although somewhat interesting I read the book as I wanted to hear stories of his trials, his work, not a history lesson.

[Bill Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have some regard for results obtained by the 'justice system' in your country (and it's based on that of Britain) then read this book. It's a pleasurable experience that says a lot. Just don't expect to change any of this in any pseudo-democratic country.

[Amad Tahir · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone who has been in this profession for the duration that I have, hats of to Alex for writing this brilliant piece of literature! Never thought I'd ever say this but he captures the true essence of a Criminal Barrister and working in Criminal Law down to a tee! Bravo Alex, Bravo! 👏👏👏

[Mark Andrew Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good explanation of defending criminals

Enjoyable read about life as a barrister and outlining many ways in which even blatantly guilty parties can escape jail through many different avenues

[Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent, simple and easy read. Entertaining, clever, witty and funny but humble too. Sometimes the stories are not quite as interesting as the author thinks they are - but mostly it's pretty good. Recommended.

[Liam Thomas Cullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody brilliant

An hilarious, frank, and interesting insight into the black box that is the British legal system. Well worth a read.

[Rich Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant read. The fascinating day to day life of a criminal barrister laid bare for all to see!

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed bag, part serious part comic. Has some interesting things to say about the Criminal justice system but gets lost a bit among the funny stuff.