January 2016 – The Student Law Journal

**Text, Cases and Materials on Criminal Law** by *Stuart Macdonald*
**Publisher:** Pearson
**Edition:** 1st Edition (May 2015)
**ISBN:** 978-1-4479-2159-2
**Price:** *£34.99*

It is likely that one of the first things which strikes you when you start your undergraduate law degree, and visit the local bookshop, is the sheer choice of textbooks on first year modules like criminal law. There are some long-standing texts and many new texts like Stuart Macdonald’s Text, Cases and Materials on Criminal Law. Macdonald’s aim is simple: to combine detailed commentary and analysis of the law with excerpts from a range of sources, both legal and non-legal, to help set the law in context and deepen the reader’s understanding. While being somewhat ambitious, this aim is impressively achieved.

Written by Dr Stuart Macdonald, Text, Cases and Materials on Criminal Law is split into eleven chapters: your criminal law toolkit; the anatomy of a crime; key actus reus concepts; key mens rea concepts; homicide; non-fatal acts against the person; sexual offences; property offences; intoxication; mental condition defences; substantive defences; inchoate offences; and accessories. This covers the main topics of most undergraduate criminal law modules.

Each chapter follows a similar approach and layout. The chapter objectives are set out. The text is also clearly separated from the materials (which stands out by the use of highlighted boxes). There are also sporadic activity boxes (but the answers do not (somewhat disappointingly) appear in the text), flow charts and conclusions at the end of each chapter. The flowcharts are perhaps one of the best features of the text; they really ensure the reader’s understanding of the material is sound. Each chapter also includes some self-test questions (again without the answers), checklists and a list of further reading.

Macdonald’s Text, Cases and Materials on Criminal Law provides a clearly written and accessible account of criminal law. It includes extracts from the main cases and materials on criminal law; a vital resource if you do not have ready access to library resources, or just want to consider the key extracts. The self-test and activity questions usefully encourage the reader to undertake further and independent research (and the further reading list is an excellent starting point). It would, however, be useful to have some suggested points for these discussions so the reader can test their understanding. Text, Cases and Materials on Criminal Law is, for all these reasons, likely to quickly become a text adopted by many students and lecturers.

Reviewed on 17 January 2016

**Client Service for Law Firms** by *Heather Stewart*
**Publisher:** Law Society Publishing
**Edition:** 1st Edition (March 2011)
**ISBN:** 978-1-85328-744-2
**Price:** *£55.00*

The suggestion that law firms are facing a future of uncertainty and increasing levels of competition has been made for a number of years. However, this issue remains a key concern for many law firms. Since the financial crisis, we have seen a number of failed law firms and consolidations in the market (particularly amongst larger firms). Those combinations aim to achieve (amongst other things) a better service for clients: which could include different service lines in the same jurisdiction or even the same service lines in other jurisdictions in which their clients do business. Those law firms who put client service at the heart of everything they do should seriously consider buying a copy of Client Service for Law Firms.

Written by a solicitor and management consultant, Dr Heather Stewart, Client Service for Law Firms is split into thirteen chapters and two appendices. The chapters are: introduction; marketing, branding and client service; achieving a client orientated culture; getting the most from your people; getting your product to market; relationships, expectations and value; delivering value to clients; value and pricing; managing finance; managing billing; risk management; your clients’ perspective: what clients think of your service; and managing complaints. The appendices are: scoping a trial; and checklists for rule 2.

The first thing which strikes you about Client Service for Law Firms is its written style; accessible and concise. It is exactly what is needed to drive home the key points. There are some thought-provoking issues which should give even the most sophisticated law firm food for thought. There are also excellent tables throughout the text; some giving pros and cons of various different approaches (the one on different approaches to fees is first-rate). This is a better way of displaying this kind of information and really allows busy practitioners a quick way to consider what they should be doing to provide, and maintain, excellent client service.

While Client Service for Law Firms was first published in March 2011, the principles and lessons from it are as relevant today as they have always been. Clients are probably more sophisticated than ever; if they do not get what they want, there are often plenty of other firms keen to work with them. Dr Stewart’s analysis helps drive home the key messages of excellent client service. If you want to make sure you are giving your clients the best service, and be in the best position to secure new clients, you should consider buying this very well-priced text.

Reviewed on 6 January 2016