Under the Wig

I thought Under The Wig was an excellent account of a barrister’s life.

William Clegg QC is a leading barrister with decades of experience in the practice of English law. In this commendably brief memoir he intersperses explanations of how a barrister’s life works and some reminiscences of his own progress with outlines of some famous cases where he has acted for the defence. These include Colin Stagg, cleared of killing Rachel Nickell on Wimbledon Common, Barry George, cleared of shooting Jill Dando and many others. Clegg (with his ghost writer, John Troup) has a crisp, honest, matter-of-fact style which I found both readable and very effective in conveying both the interesting factual elements and the more dramatic aspects of trial work.

At about 150 pages, Under The Wig says more than a lot of books twice its length. It is both a fascinating read and a welcome, timely account. If you have any interest whatsoever in legal matters and the way the law works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland I can recommend it very highly.

(My thanks to Canbury Press for an ARC via NetGalley.)

Excellent read, very enjoyable. The book is extremely well written (unsurprisingly) and focuses on key cases interspersed with a behind the scenes look at the operational aspect of being a QC. I would recommend.

A brilliant legal mind writes a wonderful book regarding some of the cases he has dealt with during his long and successful career as a barrister.
William Clegg QC, with the assistance of a former client who is a journalist as a ghostwriter, has produced a wonderful book which will appeal to those with an interest in the law and those who work on this field.
Each chapter covers a different case he dealt with and includes many famous cases such as Colin Stagg, the News of the World phone hacking case, the appeals of Barry George (who was accused of murdering Jill Dando) and Private Lee Clegg.
William Clegg is renowned and respected throughout his area of practice and his book is a reflection of this.
A fantastic and fascinating read. Highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A fascinating look into the world of a trial attorney.William Clegg well renowned takes us behind the serene of his most famous cases.Anyone interested in the real world of criminal law the lawyers the defendants the courtroom proceedings this is the book for you, #netgalley #canburypres

I’ve always been interested in the law. Not to the extent that I’ve wanted to be involved career wise (I’m firmly in team health professional), but I think it’s more an interest in the unknown and archaic world of the British justice system. It’s riddled with traditions that make it distinctly unique (mentioned here are the ‘nosegays’ given to judges at the Old Bailey, and the displaying of one of the great swords of the City of London in the court of the most senior judge) and I just find that fascinating. Under the Wig helps lift that lid into this rather closeted world, and really brought to life a world I, respectfully, hope never to be deeply involved in.

This read like a memoir in part, as we follow William Clegg QC he starts his career in law, eventually leading to him ‘taking the silk’ and becoming a barrister and head of chambers. Interspersed between this are the stories of some of his most memorable cases in the world of murder, fraud and war criminals. I liked this method of writing, because it broke up would could have been an otherwise ‘dry’ subject with injections of humour, compassion and humility. Law is so complicated, and the book needed this touch of ‘down to earth’ to appeal to a wider audience.

There were a number of topics that I had no idea about, especially Legal Aid, that I found really interesting. There was a distinct amount of passion for the subject of ‘pro bono’ cases, and the reduction in government funding that has a massive knock on effect in the profession that I had no idea about. Everything in law seems to have a cause and effect that influences everyone from the secretaries and clerks to the solicitors and barristers. It’s stressed a number of times that it’s seen as a family, and this was very endearing to me.

It was also really interesting to read a book from ‘the other side’, from a defence perspective rather than prosecution. This was particularly true in the Miss Yeates murder trial, where he was on the defence team. I found myself on a couple of occasions comparing it to a number of FBI heavy novels I’ve read (Mindhunter springs to mind), and seeing the various methods employed by both, and the differences they have. It was fascinating. William Clegg QC is very much anti capital punishment because of possible miscarriages of justice, and I thought he did a good job of putting his reasons for this across.

I did find at times that the author comes across as quite reserved, as if he’s holding something back. I think this is a downfall to his profession, where the poker face is key, but I really wanted a bit ‘more’ emotion. He readily admits at one point that he’s not sentimental or emotional, rapidly moving on from case to case (a decent coping mechanism with such a heavy workload) but I think I could have connected better with him if he’d shown a bit more vulnerability.

An excellent read into a world that before now has been largely hidden from me. Highly recommended for lovers of the law and true crime to gain a truely unique perspective from the defence side.

Clegg looks back over his long and illustrious career as a barrister defending notorious cases such as the murders of joanna Yeates and Rachel Nickell as well as Nazi war criminals. He describes the workings of the justice system, how it’s changed with policies such as the reduction in legal aid, and the painstaking research needed to do real justice to complex and high profile cases.
I found it fascinating and a real insight into what makes the court room tick, how to get a jury on your side, how barristers’ chambers work and what barristers really earn.
Thoroughly recommended for true crime enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in criminal law.

I really enjoy reading books about the law so when I spotted Under the Wig in the Read Now section of NetGalley recently I immediately downloaded it.

Under the Wig is the memoir of William Clegg QC and makes for a fascinating read. The book is told in alternating chapters where one chapter is about a famous case he has worked on and the other gradually tells his story of how he came to be a barrister.

William Clegg has worked on some very high profile cases and it was really interesting to hear about them from a defence barrister’s perspective. He gives his opinion on the outcome of each particular case in the course of a chapter and I really appreciated that. He covers cases such as the murder of Jill Dando, where he worked on Barry George’s appeal. We also get to see how it is for a barrister to work for a man who has confessed to manslaughter such as in the case of Vincent Tabak (who was convicted of murdering Joanna Yeates at Christmas 2010).

I was particularly interested in the chapter about legal aid. I was well aware of cuts in legal aid as it’s often been in the news but I didn’t know the impact it was having in real terms. It’s shocking to see how much funding has been cut and the potential this has for preventing people from accessing a good defence team.

I’ve definitely come away from this book with a little more understanding of some aspects of the law than I had before. It makes more sense to me now how some points of a case get dropped early on, and how different points are argued during a trial.

This is a gripping book – one that once you start reading you just don’t want to put down. The writing flows and it reads like a fiction book in the sense that it’s very accessible and holds your interest from start to finish. I really enjoyed Under the Wig and definitely recommend it!

Law, especially when practised at the highest level, is a profession which can seem both familiar and inscrutable at the same time. We have all seen a legal drama or two, perhaps read a John Grisham novel or maybe even sat on a jury. Many people will have followed big cases in the news, especially the show trials in America. But despite modern access to law and order there are many aspects which can be mystifying; the Latin terms, the etiquette, gowns and those archaic wigs. William Clegg Q.C’s charming memoir strips away some of those mysteries and gives the caricature lawyer a friendly face.

I enjoyed learning about how someone becomes a barrister and what a typical work week is like for them. Their motivations when dealing with clients accused of terrible things and the realities of a providing a public service at a time of austerity. The eccentricities and anachronistic traditions are fascinating and sometimes humorous too; like the historic Inns of Court and quirks of The Old Bailey. The big draw here though is to be given an insight into some of the most famous and emotive British legal cases in recent history; including the phone-hacking enquiry, war crimes and the brutal murders of Jill Dando and Lin & Megan Russell.

The book is composed of short, engaging chapters which flow nicely and are well paced. I really liked the writing style and was left wanting more. I heartily recommend this book to anyone with an interest in law, recent history or true crime.

As a lover of real life crime books I found this book really interesting.
We are given a ring side seat of how the law works in Britain through the work and eyes of William Clegg QC.
I throughly enjoyed reading about the various cases he had been involved in- Also how he works as a defence barrister in some of Britain’s biggest criminal cases.
For anyone who loves crime or want to see how the law works. This is for you.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Canbury Press Ltd for my eARC book in exchange for my honest unbiased review.

A fascinating glimpse behind the wigs and gowns of criminal barrister William Clegg as he gives the reader an educational guide to the British criminal legal system, and walks them through several of the incredibly high-profile cases in which he has been involved.
Jill Dando, Rachel Nickell, Joanna Yeates, Lin & Megan Russell.... so many of the most heart-breaking headlines in the UK have ended up with Clegg defending accused parties, many of whom have actually been innocent men. His analytical approach to researching his subjects and case histories is done with an admirable distancing from the emotion of the subject matter, ensuring he doesn't get swept up in the public hysteria.
An excellent read for anyone interested in the machinations of the British legal system.

Under the Wig was given to me NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

All the thoughts and opinions expressed are solely mine

Under the Wig is the memoir of William Clegg QC, the book is told in alternating chapters ,with one chapter being about a case he has worked on , while the next tells the story of how he came to be a barrister, then a QC.

As a true crime reader I found the book making for fascinating read, the writing flow nicely and I found that once you started reading it's very hard to put down so I decided to read the whole book in one sitting.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in law, recent history or true crime.

Wasn't sure what to expect from this book but I'm truly loving it. I love the insight this gives into the world of the courts. To the details about cases over the years and the process to becoming a barrister, QC etc.
So happy to have had the opportunity to read this book.

One of my favourite types of nonfiction is about the law. I am fascinated at how it works, and of course like many I have a morbid fascination in crimes. Clegg has weaved together a fantastic collection of personal stories whilst helping the reader have some insight into how the legal world works. His tone was warm and I found myself rooting for him despite the people he was defending. When a judge 'nominated' him for an oscar for a witty speech I could see why.
A really enjoyable read, as well as eye opening. I hope work into the funding for legal aid improves but it seems doubtful. I also hope for people like Clegg that one day they no longer need the horse hair wig, as he says; if you need it to prove yourself, you're not doing a good job. Plus, does anyone look good in that wig?

Thanks to Netgalley and Canbury Press for a copy of Under The Wig by William Clegg for an honest review.

I really enjoy reading thriller style books and watching crime related tv programs so I found this book a really interesting read.It gives you an insight into how the law works in reality , and just how hard it is to get a case to court.
The facts are told in an entertaining manner, and I was interested to hear about the back stories of high profile cases.
I have already recommended this to several students who are interested in the law.

A fantastic read. After reading this book, I realised that I had no idea about the legal system in England. My eyes have really been opened!
The book clearly explains the preparation required in the lead up to a trial, but it also looks at what goes on behind the scenes back at chambers.
I also found the language in the book easy to understand, the author doesn’t use too many technical terms.

Utterly brilliant insight into the legal world. Under the Wig is a beautiful mixture of interesting criminal cases and the long journey to get to the top of the profession. For a book dealing with such grim issues it is a very light, easy read. The style is charming and very accessible, not at all the dry work I had expected.

I was fascinated to be able to see behind some of the biggest crimes in recent years, such as the phone hacking scandal and the Wimbledon Common murder. The lengths the legal teams go to is impressive and I thoroughly enjoyed this eye-opening read.

interesting, well written and entertaining. I really enjoyed this book that kept me hooked till the end.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

A fascinating glimpse into a world that I am familiar with only through television and books – the law and particularly the world of criminal barristers.
In alternating chapters, William Clegg gives us an insight into not only his long & distinguished career as a barrister, QC and Judge, but also into some of the most high-profile cases that he worked on, including the murder of Rachel Nickell, the murder of Jill Dando, the murder of Lin Russell & her daughter and of men accused of war crimes. These were cases I recalled hearing about on the news.
Whilst we naturally don’t get all the detail of what happened in court, is interesting to read how the process works, especially if the barrister is not always convinced of his clients innocence! Unlike many of his colleagues, William Clegg was not from a privileged background, he was an ordinary chap who went to an ordinary school and became a barrister through his own hard work & determination. These humble beginnings seemed to give him a different approach in court & he always took time to explain things in ways his clients & the jury would understand - he also seemed to have an ability to see past the outward appearance of suspects (the local eccentric, the one who “looked guilty” or “probably did it”) to find the truth.
There are moments of real honesty, when he discusses the changes to the legal aid process in recent years, and why he is no longer able to take new legal aid cases “One reason I won’t take on any new public-funded cases is that the service I could offer would be substandard. I would not be able to instruct the experts I have been instructing for years ... and I would be faced with going to cheaper counterparts who I had less confidence in” He makes a justified argument that a serious and complex case such as murder requires a completely different set of skills and amount of work to a less serious crime such as theft & the remuneration that barristers get for each case should be appropriate.
I was also particularly struck by the way he detaches himself from emotionally draining and very difficult cases “remaining detached helps me stay focused on the law. Once I have finished a case and the immediate euphoria wears off, it becomes marked “old“ in my mind. I erase it and make space for the next one”

The book was written in a very approachable way, and I think that the humble origins of the author come through as he tries to write in a way that is accessible to the general public – there are some unusual words used, but this does not come across as an academic or highly learned book.


Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free via NetGalley. All opinions are my own .