Shrewsbury Dialogues: the Quality of Mercy

Should judges dictate political process? Is it right for a jury to find those who confess to crime not guilty? Is a courtroom the appropriate arena to debate whether social media use is harmful? How should we punish crime? What legal actions should the public pay for? For centuries, the law has represented a fault line in society, and these are but a few of the more current questions which arise in the life of a practising lawyer.It was this that led Esther Schutzer-Weismann to pursue a career in the law.

After a few false starts, she converted a classics degree to read for the Bar, securing a tenancy at a criminal set in London, 6KBW.

Since then, she has appeared in all kinds of criminal court, from Poole magistrates' court to the High Court sitting in Stafford, from the Privy Council sitting in the Houses of Parliament to the Isleworth Crown Court in portacabins.

Esther has prosecuted murderers and rapists, defended organised gangsters and fathers who were cruel to their children, been involved in high profile cases such as Rolf Harris and Kweku Adeboli and cases involving children as young as 13 and adults as old as 98.We look forward to hearing Esther's insights into this work and its implications!