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Dirty Briefs: The hilarious struggles and shocking tales of a bare-knuckle criminal barrister
From top to bottom – a shocking and hilarious journey through the legal profession unlike anything seen before.
Straight from the bowels of back street police stations, locked psychiatric wards and the criminal courts, these are the brazen tales of a bare-knuckle barrister.
“For those who think that all barristers are high flyers blessed with fabulous incomes and sophisticated lives, this book will decisively re-inform you. It will dispel any myth that those we trust to steer the ship are any less maladjusted than the clients they represent.
Unapologetically rude and irreverent, welcome to the real world of criminal barristers; an unruly place where nudity, misappropriation of sex toys and dirty protests are not just for the accused, and where judges’ discomfort brings widespread joy.”
Straight from the bowels of back street police stations, locked psychiatric wards and the criminal courts, these are the brazen tales of a bare-knuckle barrister.
“For those who think that all barristers are high flyers blessed with fabulous incomes and sophisticated lives, this book will decisively re-inform you. It will dispel any myth that those we trust to steer the ship are any less maladjusted than the clients they represent.
Unapologetically rude and irreverent, welcome to the real world of criminal barristers; an unruly place where nudity, misappropriation of sex toys and dirty protests are not just for the accused, and where judges’ discomfort brings widespread joy.”
8 pages, Audible Audio
Published September 13, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 30, 2023
Another enjoyable journey through many humorous anecdotes from a criminal Barrister, who has now been unmasked!
October 18, 2022
The two stars are for the very few moments of actual reflection the author had about the nature of the criminal justice system. The negative three stars are for the rest of the book.
October 4, 2022
“Dirty Briefs” by David Fendem and published by Mardle Books.
- Straight from the bowels of back street police stations, locked psychiatric wards and the criminal courts, these are the brazen tales of a bare-knuckle barrister —
Talk about hanging your dirty washing out for all to see! I don’t think there’s anything that hasn’t been divulged in this author’s world of law, criminals and colleagues. The whole book had me thoroughly entertained, the author has a fabulous narrative voice bringing some truly genuine humour to the tales. Risqué at times and generally non-political, the quick chapters (condensed for easy reading) makes this an excellent book for dipping into when you have the time and for being grateful you’re not in his clients, often very embarrassing shoes!
The author shares my style of humour, so I found the whole book amusing and quite eye opening. How some people have found themselves in certain positions and the defences they come up with is just unbelievable.
With a layman’s explanation of how the law works and the differing jobs of solicitors/barristers, I finished reading this book more knowledgeable about the legal profession and it’s crazy inhabitants of both sides of the law, in a light hearted and enjoyable format.
Kudos to David Fendem for writing a no holes barred book about the criminal fraternity (in and out of the courtroom). With some shocking tales narrated by an interesting and intelligent bare-knuckle criminal barrister, should I ever find myself needing obscure legal representation, this is the man I’m calling!
#DirtyBriefs - 4.5 stars
- Straight from the bowels of back street police stations, locked psychiatric wards and the criminal courts, these are the brazen tales of a bare-knuckle barrister —
Talk about hanging your dirty washing out for all to see! I don’t think there’s anything that hasn’t been divulged in this author’s world of law, criminals and colleagues. The whole book had me thoroughly entertained, the author has a fabulous narrative voice bringing some truly genuine humour to the tales. Risqué at times and generally non-political, the quick chapters (condensed for easy reading) makes this an excellent book for dipping into when you have the time and for being grateful you’re not in his clients, often very embarrassing shoes!
The author shares my style of humour, so I found the whole book amusing and quite eye opening. How some people have found themselves in certain positions and the defences they come up with is just unbelievable.
With a layman’s explanation of how the law works and the differing jobs of solicitors/barristers, I finished reading this book more knowledgeable about the legal profession and it’s crazy inhabitants of both sides of the law, in a light hearted and enjoyable format.
Kudos to David Fendem for writing a no holes barred book about the criminal fraternity (in and out of the courtroom). With some shocking tales narrated by an interesting and intelligent bare-knuckle criminal barrister, should I ever find myself needing obscure legal representation, this is the man I’m calling!
#DirtyBriefs - 4.5 stars
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October 9, 2022Where to start! There is such a good mix of fact and funny in this work. Career fiction is something I love and this ticks all the right boxes! It’s a bit of a slow start but once you get to know the general theme’s the author wants to highlight the better it gets! A good book for all aspiring criminal barristers, current ones and people who have been. A nice short read filled with the right mix of reality.
April 5, 2025
If the Inbetweeners did a law degree.
January 20, 2025
I wanted giggles and it delivered giggles. And made me very grateful I stopped the pursuit of a career in criminal law when I did.
October 13, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoy reading books about the lives of people working in various professions. Being a defense lawyer makes for a lot of funny stories. Most of the stories in this book a funny but there some cringe-worthy parts.
I enjoy reading books about the lives of people working in various professions. Being a defense lawyer makes for a lot of funny stories. Most of the stories in this book a funny but there some cringe-worthy parts.
September 14, 2024
This book is full of funny, albeit often macabre, anecdotes of the author's time as a criminal lawyer. There's lots of interesting information about the court system, what it's like to work your way up, the working conditions, how chambers work, the legal system during the pandemic, and more.
However, the author himself is unrelatable and unlikeable. Despite clearly being intelligent, he shows limited empathy and compassion towards people. He sounds like an arsehole. He tells stories about how he was unkind to kids in his childhood for no reason (for example, one story about knocking a girl's orange into a bin after watching her peel it), shows little consideration for colleagues, is rude to judges, the police, and clients, and generally just plays the fool without much care about the consequences.
The audiobook was also read by a very annoying narrator that doesn't know how to pronounce numerous words, for example "clerk" and "vehement" which made it irritating to listen to.
Overall readable, with plenty of interesting information, but can be quite explicit, both in language and description of crimes. He cuts out most graphic information about sex offences (largely just alluding to what case evidence may be) but doesn't spare the details when it comes to violent offences and the harm inflicted. A warning to anyone a little squeamish.
However, the author himself is unrelatable and unlikeable. Despite clearly being intelligent, he shows limited empathy and compassion towards people. He sounds like an arsehole. He tells stories about how he was unkind to kids in his childhood for no reason (for example, one story about knocking a girl's orange into a bin after watching her peel it), shows little consideration for colleagues, is rude to judges, the police, and clients, and generally just plays the fool without much care about the consequences.
The audiobook was also read by a very annoying narrator that doesn't know how to pronounce numerous words, for example "clerk" and "vehement" which made it irritating to listen to.
Overall readable, with plenty of interesting information, but can be quite explicit, both in language and description of crimes. He cuts out most graphic information about sex offences (largely just alluding to what case evidence may be) but doesn't spare the details when it comes to violent offences and the harm inflicted. A warning to anyone a little squeamish.
October 27, 2026
I gave up at 26%, which is quite unusual for me, but I genuinely couldn’t find a reason to carry on.
What frustrated me was that the subject matter had so much potential. A barrister’s experiences should provide fascinating material for a book, but I found the storytelling incredibly dull.
The humour didn’t land for me at all and the book felt like a litany of disconnected anecdotes rather than a thoughtfully constructed narrative. I kept waiting for something to draw the stories together or give me a sense of where the author was taking me, but it never happened.
I don’t necessarily need a book to have a conventional plot, particularly when it’s a memoir, but I do need some sense of purpose or progression. I felt as though I was listening to someone recounting one story after another without considering whether they were actually interesting to the listener.
Ultimately, I wasn’t offended by it or particularly irritated by the author. I was simply bored. And that’s probably the worst thing a book can do to me.
What frustrated me was that the subject matter had so much potential. A barrister’s experiences should provide fascinating material for a book, but I found the storytelling incredibly dull.
The humour didn’t land for me at all and the book felt like a litany of disconnected anecdotes rather than a thoughtfully constructed narrative. I kept waiting for something to draw the stories together or give me a sense of where the author was taking me, but it never happened.
I don’t necessarily need a book to have a conventional plot, particularly when it’s a memoir, but I do need some sense of purpose or progression. I felt as though I was listening to someone recounting one story after another without considering whether they were actually interesting to the listener.
Ultimately, I wasn’t offended by it or particularly irritated by the author. I was simply bored. And that’s probably the worst thing a book can do to me.
January 30, 2024
Really enjoyed this book although perhaps entered into it with a negative slant upon learning the author started out as a defence barrister. Defending the indefensible? Boooo! (a stereotype us lay-folk often have and a point that the author argues successfully within). I enjoyed the brazen writing style and self deprecating humour that often eludes many self congratulatory professional memoirs. It was an easy read with personal tales of upbringing and education kept to the relevant minimum and featured interesting court cases, pleasingly edited down to the juicy stuff. Despite my initial judgement I even found the author to be rather agreeable (aside the pandemic loo roll hogging - booo x2!) ... the cheeky charm that exuded the pages was difficult not to like. I guess exactly what makes the author a successful criminal barrister in the first place! Court dismissed!
July 27, 2025
Not awful, but distinctly underwhelming. I get the feeling this guy thinks he's funny but I just felt he was too often simply immature. I also found his tone cocksure and arrogant.
He sounds smug and pleased with himself (and I am commenting now on the writer, not the reader - because I did listen to the Audible audio, which was read perfectly well - by which I mean, in keeping with the character and tone of the writer, so OK, I didn't take to that, but I know why and I wouldn't hold that against the reader for a moment. On the contrary, I felt he was well-cast because he managed to bring the book to life and convince you that he could have been the writer!).
Really, it was only because my mother brought me up to be polite that I gave the writer the courtesy of finishing the book instead of sending it back to Audible for a return.
He sounds smug and pleased with himself (and I am commenting now on the writer, not the reader - because I did listen to the Audible audio, which was read perfectly well - by which I mean, in keeping with the character and tone of the writer, so OK, I didn't take to that, but I know why and I wouldn't hold that against the reader for a moment. On the contrary, I felt he was well-cast because he managed to bring the book to life and convince you that he could have been the writer!).
Really, it was only because my mother brought me up to be polite that I gave the writer the courtesy of finishing the book instead of sending it back to Audible for a return.
May 30, 2026
Dare I say, this is probably one of my favourite books. Although discussing arguably tough topics, the author interlinks his admirable sense of humour to lighten the mood. Each paragraph gripped me, egging me to read on. I was invested in the author and his journey, navigating the legal world. Although the format is not of the usual style, it is easily digestible and encourages the reader to continue. This is one of the first books I’ve ever read, that I didn’t want to end. I will be recommending this book to anyone and everyone I ever meet. It gives such a wonderful overview of the English legal system, in a simple, easy to understand way, whilst also telling a magical story of the peaks and troughs of working within in.
April 12, 2023
Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this book as much as I expected to. I have read many books like this in the past but this one was completely different. It was quite witty in many places, but I felt it was far too long winded for what it was.
Whilst the stories of each case were interesting, I found myself having to skip unnecessary sections to get to the actual case he was talking about, which put me off quite a lot. It felt like very hard work to get through and the last 20% I probably skipped most. It's no Secret Barrister, that's for sure.
Not really the best in this genre. Too much detail for me which wasn't needed.
Whilst the stories of each case were interesting, I found myself having to skip unnecessary sections to get to the actual case he was talking about, which put me off quite a lot. It felt like very hard work to get through and the last 20% I probably skipped most. It's no Secret Barrister, that's for sure.
Not really the best in this genre. Too much detail for me which wasn't needed.
April 28, 2023
Entertaining, easy read that you should grab with both hands
Nobody likes a lawyer. Having said that, you can’t help but develop something of a begrudging fondness for the author, despite his numerous character flaws (which he neither attempts to excuse nor obfuscate). Indeed, it is his lack of pretension which is key to conjuring the ‘lovable rogue’ image that keeps you invested enough to care what happens to him inbetween his recollections of the amusing/jaw dropping/pitiful cases he has won and lost. That reminds me…SPOILER ALERT: As a woman myself, and for the sake of the female population at large, I do hope it wasn’t his p**** finger they sewed on back to front.
Nobody likes a lawyer. Having said that, you can’t help but develop something of a begrudging fondness for the author, despite his numerous character flaws (which he neither attempts to excuse nor obfuscate). Indeed, it is his lack of pretension which is key to conjuring the ‘lovable rogue’ image that keeps you invested enough to care what happens to him inbetween his recollections of the amusing/jaw dropping/pitiful cases he has won and lost. That reminds me…SPOILER ALERT: As a woman myself, and for the sake of the female population at large, I do hope it wasn’t his p**** finger they sewed on back to front.
January 12, 2025
I should have learned my lesson from the secret barrister.
I have every sympathy for the criminal bar - overworked, underpaid and under-appreciated - but my GOD are they self-indulgent. I did find some of the stories quite funny and the author does a good job at humanising some of the very unwell and vulnerable people who find themselves trapped within the criminal justice system, but why does every criminal barrister who writes a book put themselves forward so pompously?
Conversely, I’d love to see a civil or family barrister write about their experience at the bar.
I have every sympathy for the criminal bar - overworked, underpaid and under-appreciated - but my GOD are they self-indulgent. I did find some of the stories quite funny and the author does a good job at humanising some of the very unwell and vulnerable people who find themselves trapped within the criminal justice system, but why does every criminal barrister who writes a book put themselves forward so pompously?
Conversely, I’d love to see a civil or family barrister write about their experience at the bar.
September 30, 2022
As an avid reader of The Secret Barrister series, this became a must-read for me. In previous reviews, I have gone into detail my background in going to law school, with a dream of becoming a criminal barrister making these types of books a personal interest.
This book differs significantly from The Secret Barrister series in the tone is somewhat more 'blunt'; however, the honesty of all accounts remains. In addition, there are many more 'what the h...' moments which make you question the absurdity of our legal system and the madness of the Great British public.
A delightful read, one which I would recommend, and I hope there is a second series to.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Ad Lib Publishers for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book differs significantly from The Secret Barrister series in the tone is somewhat more 'blunt'; however, the honesty of all accounts remains. In addition, there are many more 'what the h...' moments which make you question the absurdity of our legal system and the madness of the Great British public.
A delightful read, one which I would recommend, and I hope there is a second series to.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Ad Lib Publishers for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 13, 2023
I loved this book as it is enriched with lots of amazing stories
I loved this book as it is enriched with lots of amazing stories both good, ad, shocking and bursted out laughter.
This non-fiction book is about the life of a criminal barrier from his up bringing through his university day and out in the field in his job.
Overall a great read of a book, and highly recommend.
Best wishes Sean
I loved this book as it is enriched with lots of amazing stories both good, ad, shocking and bursted out laughter.
This non-fiction book is about the life of a criminal barrier from his up bringing through his university day and out in the field in his job.
Overall a great read of a book, and highly recommend.
Best wishes Sean
September 9, 2023
An insight into the career of a criminal barrister, you are unlikely to find elsewhere. Ultimately, beyond the amusing cases and anecdotes is an unveiling of the criminal justice system in the UK which may be dispiriting to many. Based not so much on evidence or justice, as the ability of your barrister to outfox the opposition. The author's lack of scruples in representing rapists, murderers and other awful people could be a sticking point for many.
August 20, 2026
Finally giving up on this now and marking it DNF. One star for the couple of amusing anecdotes which kept me trying to persevere. I found it impossible to get over what a total arsehole the author seems to be, and how much of what he writes seems to be utter bullshit, making Jay Cartwright seem entirely credible. This was probably not helped that I initially tried listening to this on audiobook which really intensifies the pomposity.
December 8, 2022
big words
Enjoyable read but could have been much shorter without flowery and long sentences and the use of court talk or just plain flashy language. The descriptions of the cases was fine (when you found them amongst the big words) and undoubtedly he is a good barrister but own trumpet blowing is clearly his hobby.
Enjoyable read but could have been much shorter without flowery and long sentences and the use of court talk or just plain flashy language. The descriptions of the cases was fine (when you found them amongst the big words) and undoubtedly he is a good barrister but own trumpet blowing is clearly his hobby.
December 10, 2022
Dirty Briefs by Dave Fendem and I loved this book. I found this so funny and very entertaining. I enjoyed reading this book and it had me lol in several parts of this book. I had funny looks from my Hubby!!!! (He thought I was going mad!!!) The English legal justice system has a lots to answer for!!! Humorous insight into life as a defence barrister in UK!
I would recommend this book
I would recommend this book
October 1, 2026
I found this book to be a reasonable insight into the UK legal system.
A more relatable and down to earth lense to help any person understand the ins and outs of what it is like to be a solicitor or a barrister in the UK.
I would hope this illicits some compassion for the over worked solicitors and barristers of the UK
A more relatable and down to earth lense to help any person understand the ins and outs of what it is like to be a solicitor or a barrister in the UK.
I would hope this illicits some compassion for the over worked solicitors and barristers of the UK
February 21, 2024
Could not finish.
The writer is deeply misogynistic, lacks basic respect and empathy for anyone around him, and doesn't take anything seriously. I hope this is a persona he has created mistakenly thinking that this ne'er do well cheeky chappy character is endearing. Its not.
The writer is deeply misogynistic, lacks basic respect and empathy for anyone around him, and doesn't take anything seriously. I hope this is a persona he has created mistakenly thinking that this ne'er do well cheeky chappy character is endearing. Its not.
September 29, 2022
An irreverent, quite light hearted look at working as a criminal barrister. Entertaining enough but if you are looking for something with heft then this is not what you want.
January 26, 2023
I found this hilarious, really cheered my days up reading this.
Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.
February 14, 2023
A First Class Read
I read this book in a day.
The narrative is delivered in bite size pieces.
There is a ring of truth on every page and it is fully entertaining.
I read this book in a day.
The narrative is delivered in bite size pieces.
There is a ring of truth on every page and it is fully entertaining.
February 25, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyable -funny and well written-account of the realities of working at the coalface of the criminal legal system.
March 11, 2023
Really fun book from a pretty cheeky barrister. Stories from his career that range from laugh out loud funny to wince-inducing cringefests. Thoroughly enjoyable. 4 stars.
May 3, 2023
aud
January 18, 2024
Absolutely brilliant, humerous read. However, of you're offended by bad language, this is not for you !
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews