Includes index.

Contents: Part One: Introduction: Henry Bracton c 1200-1268 -- Sir Edward Coke 1552-1634 -- Sir William Blackstone 1723-1780 -- William Murray, afterwards Earl of Mansfield 1705-1783 -- Lord Brougham 1778-1868 -- Part Two: Trial by jury: It glories -- Causes celebres 1367-1688 -- Causes celebres in crime since 1770 -- Civil cases tried by jury -- A glance backward -- Reforms in my time -- Proposal for consideration -- Conclusion -- Part Three: Legal aid: Costs as they used to be -- Side effects in old days -- They coming of legal aid -- Drawbacks of the scheme -- Criminal legal aid -- Proposals for consideration -- Consideration -- Conclusion -- Part Four: Personal injuries: The royal commission report is shelved -- Old days -- Modern times -- No-fault liability -- Damages for personal injuries -- Living death -- When the person is killed -- Loss of future earnings -- Pain and suffering and loss of amenities of life -- Conclusion -- Part Five: Libel: Introduction -- The star chamber -- The common law takes over -- The nineteenth century -- The takes a wrong turning -- Technicalities beyond belief -- Inordinate length -- Fair information -- Exemplary damages before 1964 -- Exemplary damages after 1964 -- Trial by jury - or judge? -- Legal aid -- Part Six: Privacy and confidence: Two human right in conflict -- Our case-law -- Breach of confidence -- confidentiality prevails -- Confidentiality overruled -- All about the 'mole' -- 'The Primodos Affair' -- Discovery of documents -- Remedies for breach of privacy or of confidence -- The future -- Part Seven: A bill of rights: Ever since Magna Carta -- We come to our times -- We turn to the cases -- The Court at Strasbourg -- Do not incorporate the Convention -- Community law -- What should we do? -- Part Eight: Misuse of power: Introduction: A hierarchy of power -- Of rulers -- Of honours -- Conventions of the Constitution -- Parliament itself -- Trade unions -- Ministers of the Crown -- Members of Parliament -- The media -- The judge themselves -- Conclusion.