With the Law on Our Side

The Spiderwoman rides again; this time in plain clothes to report on how our legal system protects everyone. With the law under threat from decades of cuts, complacency and political hostility, this accessible, forensic and breathtakingly humane explanation may be her most important mission yet

Shami Chakrabarti, author of Human Rights

Baroness Hale has done it again - combining wisdom, warmth, and razor-sharp insight to reveal how the law can serve not only the powerful but each and every one of us. This book is a rallying cry for justice that is truly on our side. It reminds us why the rule of law matters and why we must fight to preserve it

Cherie Blair CBE, KC

Lady Hale opens the doors of the British legal system with clarity, insight, and a passion for justice ... She writes with conviction and a deep belief in the power of the law to serve everyone ... A reminder of how rare it is to hear from someone who has sat at the very top and still takes the time to observe from the ground. She is, without question, a pioneer - and a living testament to how far the law has come, and how far it still must go

Dr Charlotte Proudman, Barrister

[A] uniquely comprehensive and accessible explanation of our court system and law-making process… Hale shows why access to justice matters for everyone

Week

An excellent beginner's guide to the work of the courts be someone who knows them from both sides

Jonathan Sumption, author of The Challenges of Democracy

A personal journey around the law, with real and accessible stories and characters – a principled, timely and vital reminder of why justice matters

Philippe Sands, author of East West Street

Brenda Hale is a national treasure. If this country made any sense, we'd make this book part of the syllabus

Ian Dunt, author of How Westminster Works... And Why It Doesn't

Essential reading. This is a remarkably accessible and engaging exploration of the social function of law and its vital role in protecting those whose voices are often unheard. With her legendary intellectual rigour and clarity, Lady Hale draws on her experience as a jurist and educator to demystify complex legal principles and bring them to life through compelling, real-world examples

Professor Dame Hazel Genn

Lady Hale has drawn back the often impenetrable curtain of the law to show us how, at its heart, it exists to protect us all … Everyone who cares about a fair and just society should read this book

Sarah Langford, author of In Your Defence

[With the Law on Our Side] is primarily a book about everyday justice and on this it is powerful and urgent … The fundamental problem is how society thinks about justice … [Lady Hale's] book reminds us why it matters

Financial Times

An engaging and authoritative book that shines a spotlight on the underappreciated working of grassroots justice

Law Gazette ** FIVE STARS **

A charming book, pleasingly old-fashioned and opinionated … She describes the hearings she attends at each venue with a keen eye and a freshness of perspective … Hale writes lucidly and expertly about it all … An interesting book, written from the perspective of one who has occupied the highest judicial office in the land

The Times

Informative and enjoyable … With the Law on Our Side is a compelling read that should allow people to understand and appreciate the legal system better

Observer