Barristers
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John Philpot Curran’s Lucky Brief, 1779
Because barristers cannot receive instructions directly from the public, and are dependent on solicitors to give them cases, it can be challenging – and sometimes impossible – for a young advocate to get established. It used to be said that,… Continue reading
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The Barrister’s Boots That Went to Mass and Came Back Lucky, 1910-1991
From the Irish Press, 18 January 1940: “Mr. Albert Wood, SC, who has been retained to lead in the appeals of Peter Barnes and James Richards, before the Court of Criminal Appeal, London, from their convictions on the charge of… Continue reading
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The Bells of St Bartholomew’s and Serjeant William Bennett Campion, 1882-1907
From the Freeman’s Journal, 9 February 1924: “UNHAPPY CHIMES In the first days of a New Year, we find ourselves chatting of joybells. It seldom occurs to the present generation of Dubliners that our local peal of bells has figured… Continue reading
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The Barrister and the ‘Charley,’ c.1780
From the Irish Independent, 12 November 1907, this fantastic piece on ‘The Charleys,’ or the Old Dublin Watch, by D.J.M. Quinn, with an amusing story in its last paragraph about how an eminent and somewhat officious ‘gentleman of the wig… Continue reading
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The Tall Hat as Mandatory Off-Duty Legal Wear, 1800-1934
From the Freeman’s Journal, 5 February 1916: “TALL HATS IN DUBLIN MULLEN V LEMASS (Before Mr Justice Pim) The plaintiff, Kate Mullen, brought an action to recover from the defendant, John Lemass, £90, arrears of rent due out of premises… Continue reading