In The Chambers of Marshall Hall: 125 Years Malcolm Spence QC, has provided a useful social historical account of the foundation and development of a truly remarkable set of chambers.
The book traces the origins of the Chambers in 1880, and then focuses on the life and work of the charismatic Edward Marshall Hall, who was arguably one of the most successful advocate of his time. Marshall Hall was followed by his junior Norman Birket, who was equally successful and distinguised in his own right, thus affording the Chambers with two of the best advocates during the first half of the twentieth century.
After the war, the book details the ascent of the local government work at the chambers led by John Widgery, later Lord Chief Justice and Nigel Bridge, later the Senior English Law Lord.
Accounts on the work of Sir Graham Eyre QC, as well as Anthony Scrivener QC, together with the current set of highly rated partners make this an engaging and informative read on what should become a useful contribution to the genre of books and references on the social history of legal practice.
