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Influences part 4

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Lord Denning

Another important influence was someone I met, but did not know. Lord Denning.

Lord Denning was a stalwart of student functions. In particular he was assiduous in assisting Commonwealth students and making them feel at home. That is why in many such places he is still remembered with affection. I remember appearing in one court in the Caribbean, in front of a local Judge who was a particularly courteous person, when I heard someone denigrate Lord Denning. One of the other advocates in trying to make a submission referred to a decision he wished to say was wrong. Amongst his points he stated that the judgment was "only by Lord Denning in any event ". (Some lawyers think it clever/fashionable to be dismissive about him). The Judge had an expression akin to thunder. "What exactly do you mean by that?" he almost bellowed (the more striking for its contrast with his normal measured politeness). The Judge went on to make it clear that in his view Lord Denning was one of the great legal minds.

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Markesinis on Denning

Sir Basil Markesinis QC, previously referred to in QC blog and a lawyer of great distinction, in addition to being an academic did some cases. He said that the thing about Lord Denning was that however much you would work on a case, and however thoroughly you knew it, he was always capable of coming up with some insight that no one else had seen.

It is not to these qualities however, that I refer as an influence. At the end of my first term at Cambridge, a friend I had met that term suggested that I go back to stay with his family for a few days in London. Whilst we were there he asked me if I would be interested in going to the courts. I said I would be, and so we went to go and watch Lord Denning in action.

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Empty court

We arrived in the afternoon. We went in, but the court was empty. Work had finished for the day. Someone was actually cleaning the benches. "Are they coming back at all today?" I asked, a distinct lack of optimism in my tone. "No, they've finished for the day." She informed us. "That's a shame", I said, " I'd wanted to see Lord Denning.". "Are you students then?". We informed her that we were. "Wait there a minute." she said, and then disappeared through a door at the back of the court.

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The great man

She returned promptly. "He'll see you now.", she said to our utter astonishment. "Follow me."

So it was that we were ushered into the presence of the great man, who spoke to us for a few minutes, about what we wanted to do, about the law, judicial life, lots of friendly chatting. Then, pointing at the mass of paperwork on his desk, he said "Well, if you'll excuse me, as you'll see I've got a judgment to get on with.".

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Private audience

One way or another my life has always been abnormally eventful, but even in my wildest dreams I did not expect to get a "private audience" with Lord Denning at the end of my first term as a law student. Two things particularly impressed me. One, that he made the time to speak to students, no doubt knowing the inspirational and encouraging effect that could have on aspiring lawyers. The second was that the cleaner felt sufficiently confident to go and ask him, showing that this can have been no one-off, and showing how approachable he was.

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Making time for people

Apart from demonstrating that truly brilliant and eminent lawyers do not let their status go to their heads, the important lesson I learned was about personal touch. It is frightening to even think what the workload was that Lord Denning had to cope with. He still had time for people. That is the lesson every lawyer needs to remember. The law is not just about law, it is also about people. If you ever lose time for people, then you lose an important part not just of life, but of that which is necessary to allow you to truly succeed as a lawyer. Only someone who has and retains the understanding of people will be able to use and apply the law in a way that can help them.

Michael J. Booth QC