My Life in Crime

In a career spanning five decades, barrister, prosecutor, judge and corruption commissioner John McKechnie AO KC has seen up close how the law touches the lives of us all, for both good and bad.

After a year in practice, I received a brief to defend a youth accused, with his friend, of manslaughter. There are times when a chance event changes the course of one's life. This was my event. Although unaware at the time, I was about to embark on a life of crime.

In a career spanning five decades, barrister, prosecutor, judge and corruption commissioner John McKechnie AO KC has seen up close how the law touches the lives of us all.

In this engaging and entertaining memoir, McKechnie takes readers on a tour of his distinguished career, and explores the criminal cases, big and small, that have stayed with him.

McKechnie also includes his compilation of bite-sized 'quirky cases', historical excursions into moments of legal and personal interest—all written with humour and, above all, great humanity.