Michael Williams (14) (1934–)

Michael Williams discusses alternatives to the litigation process, such as arbitration and mediation, and shows why they are not performing as well as they should. He offers a better way for appointing judges, and suggests that they should go through both training and continuous assessment. He show more describes how lawyers' fees could be reduced and argues for a redefinition of the duties lawyers owe to the public. He then takes a critical look at two recent proposals to reform the legal system. In the last section, Michael Williams analyses five recent Supreme Court decisions and argues that the judgments have abridged the rights of citizens, intruded on the proper functions of the Dil and government, and in general have had a negative impact on the legal landscape. The Irish legal system has an enormous influence on all of our lives, and this important new book provides some concrete suggestions, in accessible, nontechnical language, on how it could be made fairer and more effective. show less