By Advice of Counsel.

Few writers knew the machinery of the law from the inside as well as Arthur Train, a practising lawyer who turned his courtroom experience into some of the most popular legal fiction of his day. These stories bring that expert, sympathetic eye to the human dramas that fill a lawyer's working life.

What it's about

By Advice of Counsel is a collection of Arthur Train's legal fiction, drawing on the world of lawyers, clients, and the courts that he knew so intimately. Train's stories characteristically follow the twists of cases and the shrewd, humane figures who navigate them, blending suspense and courtroom manoeuvre with a keen sense of character and a dry wit. His work is celebrated for making the law both dramatic and comprehensible to the ordinary reader.

Themes

Justice and its imperfections, the gap between the letter of the law and genuine fairness, and the cunning and conscience of the men who practise it all run through Train's fiction. He is fascinated by cleverness in the service of good ends, and by the small human comedies that play out in legal offices and courtrooms.

Why it still matters

Train helped shape the entire genre of the legal story, and his affectionate, knowing portraits of the profession still entertain and instruct. His view of the law as a deeply human institution, for better and worse, remains as apt as ever.

Who it's for

Fans of legal fiction and courtroom drama, readers who enjoy wit and shrewd characterisation, and anyone curious about the origins of a beloved genre.

Sources and references

Verified references for this edition: Open Library, Arthur Train on Wikipedia.