John Greenwood

Opinion
Expect the unexpected
22 October 2018
A reminder that anything can happen in the courtroom.
Opinion
Easy does it in the modern office
9 July 2018
The other day, as I paid a visit to the old firm, a sepulchral calm appeared to have descended on the family department.
Opinion
Keeping a civil tongue
4 June 2018
Suddenly being thrust into civil law, including family cases, is no joke.
Opinion
Meagre returns
21 May 2018
Criminal barristers and solicitors should be paid fairly.
Opinion
Career path for criminal law
5 March 2018
Retired criminal lawyer John Greenwood reflects on the position of trainee criminal law solicitors and barristers.
Opinion
Full disclosure – at last?
12 February 2018
Criminal lawyers will have been horrified by the revelations about non-disclosure of evidence helpful to the defence.
Opinion
Stay lucky
15 January 2018
A dignitary interviewed on the radio the other day was asked what had been the most important factor in his life – the answer was luck. Looking back on a long legal career, I realise how vital this was.
Opinion
Court is no laughing matter
8 January 2018
While it is always dangerous to underestimate how seriously a court may view your case, it can be equally risky to make a joke, however well-intentioned.
Opinion
It’s a dog’s life
27 November 2017
There seems to be an increasing trend to take your pooch to the office. Indeed, one firm boasts as many as three office dogs on its website.
Opinion
Blame game
20 November 2017
I suppose it rarely crosses the minds of property or commercial lawyers that they may create enmities sufficient to provoke violence. For criminal lawyers, there is the reassurance that they are on the side of those who might harbour and carry out violent acts.
Opinion
Too few judges
23 October 2017
It is a strange little world, that of the deputy district judge, particularly those retired who come back and sit a few times a month.
Opinion
A gilded age for lawyers?
2 October 2017
There is a growing tendency for the current generation of lawyers to cast a somewhat jaundiced eye on those of us of an earlier time. They may well have a point. The past is indeed a different country; we did things very differently there.
Opinion
Short-sighted
4 September 2017
The new lord chancellor should increase the retirement age for the senior judiciary to 75.
Opinion
Family affairs
31 July 2017
Courts still clung to the principle of the wife’s right to lifelong maintenance.
Opinion
Closure fallout
24 July 2017
Consequences of court closures to be felt.
Opinion
No respect for the judicial role
17 July 2017
Who would want to be a judge now?
Opinion
‘Short’ Sharp shock
3 July 2017
I do not envy divorce lawyers having to advise clients in a ‘short’ marriage following the Sharp decision.
Opinion
Erosion of a lawyer's role
26 June 2017
Civil litigation lawyers will have taken note of Lord Faulks’ call for regulation of third-party funding.
Opinion
Millions to juggle with
5 June 2017
Family laywers have enough to worry about.
Opinion
Monitoring for signs of stress?
3 April 2017
I have become concerned by cases involving friends and former colleagues who appeared to have burnt out and suffered breakdowns.