We should hail the cab-rank rule

The principle that barristers should accept any brief is all too easily sidestepped

IS IT LEGITIMATE TO JUDGE lawyers-turned-politicians by their legal work? This question has rarely seemed more important, as Lord Hermer, the attorney-general, has come under fire about his time at the English bar, especially when as a law officer he has had to advise on issues affecting his former clients such as Gerry Adams. Almost by definition, every attorney-general will have had a variety of clients at the bar; but Lord Hermer is the first one to have specialised in suing the British government, thus making him far more vulnerable to political attacks. His response has been to admit, under great political pressure, that he has recused himself from advising on certain subjects as attorney, while refusing to tell anyone which files he has recused himself from. A fundamental part…

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The Critic (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 2025

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