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I Have to Move my Car: Tales of Unpersuasive Advocates and Injudicious Judges
There are law books about constructive trusts, the Perpetuities and Accumulations Act 1964 and the rule in Foss v Harbottle. This is not one of them. David Pannick QC has always been much more interested in unpersuasive advocates and injudicious judges.
In this collection of his fortnightly columns from The Times, David Pannick passes judgement on advocates who tell judges that their closing submissions to the jury will not take long because 'I would like to move my car before 5 o'clock; and he sentences judges who claim to have invisible dwarf friends sitting with them on the Bench, who order the parties to 'stay loose - as a goose', and who signal their rejection of an advocate's argument by flushing a miniature toilet on the bench.
In making his submissions, David Pannick QC will entertain and inform you about judges, lawyers, legal entertainment and unusual litigation.
In this collection of his fortnightly columns from The Times, David Pannick passes judgement on advocates who tell judges that their closing submissions to the jury will not take long because 'I would like to move my car before 5 o'clock; and he sentences judges who claim to have invisible dwarf friends sitting with them on the Bench, who order the parties to 'stay loose - as a goose', and who signal their rejection of an advocate's argument by flushing a miniature toilet on the bench.
In making his submissions, David Pannick QC will entertain and inform you about judges, lawyers, legal entertainment and unusual litigation.
296 pages, Hardcover
First published November 4, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 14, 2020
entertaining
May 17, 2017
David Pannick QC's collected newspaper columns are breezy reads, with a pleasant range of geography, history, and social strata to them. The beauty of legal columns such as these is that the law touches everything, so nothing is out of bounds. There's a concentration of intra-law topics, discussing lawyers good and bad, judges, legal practices, and injustices, but there's plenty of human interest along the way.
As is the way of these things, the quality varies, and like a box of chocolates not all contents are all that interesting or appealing to any one person. But there's something in here for most.
As is the way of these things, the quality varies, and like a box of chocolates not all contents are all that interesting or appealing to any one person. But there's something in here for most.
June 23, 2025
A collection of the author's columns from The Times, usually about bizarre or quirky cases, some more serious than others. Pannick is a very distinguished lawyer and thus has a firm grasp of the subject matter, as well as a sharp and incisive style.
February 18, 2009
David Pannick QC's eminently readable collection of fortnightly columns in the Times.
The best thing that can be said about this book - it will encourage a non-law person to study law.
I found the columns themselves to be very amusing, often loaded with self-effacing humor ("imagine finding yourself in court and your barrister's name is Pannick!"). They were however very formulaic - start with fascinating anecdote, develop with similar examples, offer some commentary, and end with punchline referencing said anecdote. One star off for that.
The best thing that can be said about this book - it will encourage a non-law person to study law.
I found the columns themselves to be very amusing, often loaded with self-effacing humor ("imagine finding yourself in court and your barrister's name is Pannick!"). They were however very formulaic - start with fascinating anecdote, develop with similar examples, offer some commentary, and end with punchline referencing said anecdote. One star off for that.
January 6, 2013
Really enjoying this.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews