Life imitates Art
In principle art is supposed to be the thing which reflects life. Sometimes however it happens the other way round.
^ TOPGangsters
When the "gangster" films first came out of Hollywood, the smart dressing of the villains was nothing like the outfits the real gangsters actually wore. They were much more dressed down. Until the films came out. After that it was noted that the real gangsters started dressing themselves like the gangsters in the movies.
That is something that lawyers always have to remember in respect of legal dramas. The expectations of the public are likely to be influenced by what they have seen on television, rather than real life.
^ TOPThe CSI effect
There has been considerable discussion of this in the United States, where it is known as the "CSI" effect. It is suggested by some that such programmes unduly influence juries. They get the impression that where a crime is committed you will always be able to find some forensic evidence, juries even assuming that techniques they have seen on screen are readily available in real life even when they're not.
There was a series about barristers sometime ago called "North Square" which apparently featured a Machiavellian clerk. When the series was on, I queried with another barrister why we were hearing clerks using particular phrases that had never been used before. "They're copying the clerk off North Square" I was told.
^ TOPRecent TV series
There have therefore been two series about the law recently which, given the nature of the influence of television, are bound to have an impact on public thinking.
The first is a series called New Street Law. (I have never seen it but am told it is about Manchester barristers). Those who've watched it (who are not lawyers) tell me it is interesting with a strong lead character. I suspect therefore that a large section of the public will watch this and assume that this is what the Bar in Manchester is like. That will therefore influence their perception and expectations when they are actually dealing with Manchester barristers.
Although I have read the book Bleak House, I did not see the series. Obviously that deals with the very different legal context of over 150 years ago. However, since the series is likely to have reflected the views of the book, being involved in litigation in the Chancery Division of the High Court is likely to have been shown as equivalent to being trapped in one of the circles of Hell as depicted by Dante in the Inferno.
^ TOPTV influenced perceptions
As someone who undertakes a fair amount of his practice in the Chancery division, and who has Chambers in Manchester, I am therefore likely to find that there are a number of people, possibly including clients, whose views of Manchester barristers and of the Chancery division are based on or have been influenced by those series. I will therefore at some stage (once they are out) have to get the DVDs and watch New Street Law, and the BBC adaptation of Charles Dickens' Bleak House.
^ TOPGood enough for TV....
Still, television series have their benefits. When there was the famous Deirdre Barlow trial in Coronation Street (which I did not see, but according to the newspapers at the time was even referred to in Parliament), some of the scenes where she was filmed seeing her lawyers were filmed in my Manchester Chambers. I suppose therefore that for those who view real-life law through the prism of television, we could at least suggest that if it was good enough for Coronation Street and Deirdre, it should be good enough for them.