Chapter II: Preface: To the Second Edition

In accordance with the kind suggestions of a well-known barrister, a number of corrections have been adopted in the text of this edition. Some of them it had been the intention of the Author to make before his death and others have seemed necessary in order to secure greater accuracy and to preserve the value of the book for purposes of reference.

May 18, 1912.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. FIRST IMPRESSIONS 1

The Law Courts Building on the Strand.--A Court
Room.--Participants in a Trial.--Wigs and Gowns.
--Colloquial Methods.--Agreeable Voices.--
Similarity to American Trials.

II. THE MAKING OF LAWYERS 9

Classes from which Barristers and Solicitors are
Drawn.--The Inns of Court.--Inns of Chancery.--
American Students at Period of Revolution.--A
Barrister's Chambers.--Training of Barristers in
an Inn.--Being Called to the Bar.--Training of
Solicitors.

III. BARRISTERS 29

Waiting for Solicitors as Clients. "Devilling."
--Juniors.--Conduct of a Trial.--"Taking Silk."
--Becoming a K. C.--Active Practice.--The Small
Number of Barristers.

IV. BARRISTERS--THE COMMON LAW AND CHANCERY BARS 39

Bar Divided into Two Parts. No Distinction Between
Criminal and Civil Practice.--Leaders.--"Taking
His Seat" in a Particular Court.--"Going Special."
--List of Specials and Leaders.--Significance of
Gowns and "Weepers." "Bands."--"Court Coats."--
Wigs in the House of Lords.--Barristers' Bags,
Blue and Red.

V. SOLICITORS 49

Line Which Separates Them from the Bar.--Solicitor
a Business Man.--Family Solicitors.--Great City
Firms of Solicitors.--The Number of Solicitors in
England and Wales.--Tendency Toward Abolishing the
Distinction Between Barrister and Solicitor.--
Solicitors Wear no Distinctive Dress Except in
County Courts.--Solicitors' Bags.

VI. BUSINESS AND FEES 57

Influential Friends of Barrister.--Junior's and
Leader's Brief Fees.--Fees of Common Law and
Chancery Barristers.--Barrister Partnerships not
Allowed.--English Litigation Less Important than
American.--Clerks of Barristers and Solicitors
Haggle over Fees.--Solicitors' Fees.

VII. DISCIPLINE OF THE BAR AND OF SOLICITORS 67

The General Council of the Bar.--The Statutory
Committee of the Incorporated Law Society.
--Rulings on Various Matters.--Lapses from Correct
Standards.

VIII. THE CIVIL COURTS 87

The General System.--Different Courts.--Rules of
Practice Made by Lord Chancellor.--Juries, Common
and Special.--Judges and How Appointed.--Judges'
Pay.--Costs. Court Notes.--Some Differences in
English and American Methods.

IX. COURTS OF APPEAL 107

The Court of Appeal.--House of Lords.--Divisional
Court.--Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

X. MASTERS--THE TIME SAVERS 117

Current Hearings.--Minor Issues Threshed out.

XI. THE POLICE COURTS 125

Current Hearings.

XII. THE CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT--THE OLD BAILEY 131

Current Trials

XIII. AN IMPORTANT MURDER TRIAL 145

XIV. LITIGATION ARISING OUTSIDE OF LONDON 169

Local Solicitors.--Solicitors' "Agency Business."
--The Circuits and Assizes.--Local Barristers.
--The County Courts.--The Registrar's Court.

XV. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS AND CONCLUSION 177

INDEX 195

ILLUSTRATIONS

THE CORRIDORS OF THE COURTS _Frontispiece_

FACING PAGE

CROSSING THE STRAND FROM TEMPLE TO COURT 36

A JURY TRIAL 100

A SUBJECT FOR THE POLICE COURT 128

THE SENTENCING OF DHINGRA 156

SIDEWALK SOCIALISM--HYDE PARK 178

A PHILADELPHIA LAWYER IN THE LONDON COURTS