Swamped with Christmas book tokens and still wondering what to treat yourself to? Why not consider a new anthology of prose and poetry, just published by former practising solicitor Danielle McLaughlin?

What’s unusual about this anthology is that it has been inspired by law reports and legal judgments!

Cork-based McLaughlin frequently came across lawyers who had become writers. She decided that this could be the basis for a book and has now put together an anthology called Counterparts: A Synergy of Law and Literature, by 22 writers, published by Stinging Fly. 

All proceeds from the book, which costs €20, will go to the Peter McVerry Trust, which provides housing for people in need.

Ulysses

Contributors include the late Supreme Court judge Adrian Hardiman, with an extract from his book Joyce in Court, about the law cases in Ulysses.

Former criminal lawyer Madeleine D’Arcy also features, as does practising solicitor Catherine Kirwan, whose debut crime novel is about to be published.

Similarities

Danielle McLaughlin writes in her foreword that she is struck by the similarities between the practice of law and the practice of creative writing, with both having a focus on story and language.

McLaughlin says that practising law made her think closely about the meaning of words.