Product Description

The Times, Saturday 4th March 2006, wrote:

This is a rare book — one that is very funny but, at the same time, tells us something about how important it is that people who do not have much in this life should be able to pursue their claims to justice with at least some chance of success.

Ells may laugh at himself and his efforts, but ultimately the reader suspects that he made a big difference to the lives of those he helped, and for that his voluntary work for the VSO, and this highly entertaining book he has written about it, deserves full marks.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #103271 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Daily Mail
'This witty, honest account just goes to prove it's never too late to jump off that nine-to-five treadmill'

Jonathan Dimbleby
'A delightful read - sharp and humorous'

City to City magazine, June/July 06
A richly funny book, Philip Ells draws wonderful pen pictures of what must have been the experience of a lifetime.

Customer Reviews

Wonderfully accurate
As a former volunteer lawyer in a remote island archipaelego, I wholeheartedly endorse Philip Ells comments, and congratulate him not only on finding the time and commitment to produce his personal account, but on the humour and literary skills evident throughout the book. People's Lawyer ought to be compulsory reading for all VSO and Peace Core personnel, and also for any lawyer considering a move out of big city private practice into various esoteric and underpaid areas of the law.

an interesting, informative narration about another culture
The young lawyer, Philip Ells, who gives over two years of his life to service in another land,writes of his experiences in a humourous fashion. It's doubtful that many would want to give up all the comforts of home to go to Tuvalu for any extended period such as he did. I admire his fortitude and general good humor and hope that he derived a measure of peace from his service. How much good he was able to accomplish is an unanswered question. Certainly his physical ailments got a lot of attention, perhaps too much so. His ability to adapt to deprivation and the strange laws of the island are admirable. English law was nearly useless to him. His light touch made it easy to read.

Who knew the law was so funny!
A thoroughly enjoyable, amusing and informative read. I couldn't put it down, not just for the humour and Tuvalu anecdotes but also for the intelligent insights into the legal profession. The People's Lawyer shows the inapplicability of strict aspects of English law in a vastly different culture, but also the universal applicability of the basic concept of rule of law. Legal theory and laugh-out-loud jokes in the same book!