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World Book Day 2026
- Cardiff JLD
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
For some of us, the journey into law didn't begin in a lecture theatre or interview, it started with a book.
Whether it was a novel that sparked our sense of justice, a memoir that revealed the realities of practice, or a legal text that shifted our perspective, books have a powerful way of shaping how we think about the profession.
This World Book Day, we are inviting our committee members and other junior lawyers to reflect on the stories that have influenced them, and the ones that continue to shape the lawyers they are becoming.
Below, Elli Bainton, our Welsh Language & Publicity & Comms Officer and soon-to-be trainee solicitor at Blake Morgan, shares two books that changed her perspective on the law.
World Book Day: Two Books That Changed My Perspective on the Law
Reading is one of the easiest ways to step away from reality for a few hours, especially when your brain needs a break from emails, deadlines, and legal problem-solving. In the spirit of World Book Day, I wanted to share two books that genuinely shaped how I think about the law and the legal system, and that I actually enjoyed reading in my own time.
The first is Eve Was Framed by Helena Kennedy KC. This is a sharp, powerful and incredibly important book. Kennedy takes a critical look at the British legal system, particularly at how women are treated in our courts. She explores judicial bias, juror assumptions, confusing court procedures and the role the media can play in shaping outcomes, often before a case has even been properly heard.
Although the focus is on women’s experiences, the issues Kennedy exposes extend far beyond them. Her analysis resonates just as strongly for other marginalised groups, where race, class, poverty or politics can quietly influence how someone is perceived and treated long before they ever step into a courtroom.
She also addresses the intimidating nature of the courtroom itself, from rigid rituals to wigs and gowns, and reflects honestly on her own experiences as a female barrister. What really stands out is how readable the book is. It is thoughtful and challenging but written in a conversational rather than academic style.
If you are interested in more than just black letter law and want to understand how the legal system truly operates in practice, this book is a must-read. It fundamentally changed how I think about credibility, sexism, and how women who do not conform to certain stereotypes are often judged more harshly in the courts.
Available to buy here:
The second book explores a topic I studied in my second year at university, one I became genuinely fascinated by, and read to better understand how the law operates beyond lecture slides and statutes. This one is for anyone interested in technology, data protection and digital power.
Mindfck by Christopher Wylie is a gripping and, at times, unsettling read. Wylie, who previously worked at data firm Cambridge Analytica, explains how vast amounts of personal data were harvested from Facebook and used to create psychological profiles of voters. These profiles were then used to target swing voters with tailored political messaging during both the Brexit referendum and the 2016 Trump presidential campaign.
What makes this book so effective is how clearly it shows the real value of data, and how easily it can be misused when legal and ethical safeguards fail. Concepts we talk about in data protection law, such as data transparency, consent, confidentiality, and the misuse of personal data, suddenly feel very real when you see their impact on democracy itself.
Reading this book made me think twice about my own digital footprint and how much information I give away without even realising it. If you are interested in data protection, or the intersection between law, politics and technology, this book is an eye-opening reminder of why regulation matters and what is at stake when it is ignored.
Available to buy here:
Happy reading!
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