SUCCINCT AND INFORMATIVE STORIES FROM THE FIELD OF LAW

Book Review: "Yours Legally" by Sonia Sahijwani

Though there are many books with policemen or policewomen being protagonists, and police procedurals are a big hit with fans of the crime genre, not much books have been written about the workings of the legal profession. There are courtroom dramas which portray lawyers fighting in courts, but not how lawyers prepare for their cases. The author Sonia Sahijwani comes up with one such book “Yours Legally”, which is a compilation of six interconnected short stories, with the common thread connecting these being law.

This book is a collection of six short stories. However, the short stories in this book are not independent, as most short story collections are. These stories contain the same protagonist, and are about a common theme, that is Law. The protagonist of the book is Sia, who has recently finished her graduation in Law against her parent’s wishes. She then sets out to explore the various opportunities this not so common but upcoming field of law brings her way. The six stories in the book are based on the six elements which the author feels are critical to the field of Law- The Complainant, The Court, The Case, The Counsel, The Confinement and The Criminal.

The stories in the book are inspired by some true events. The author, through the protagonist Sia, narrates to us few such unusual and memorable incidents including some eccentric court room dramas, all of which have left a deep impact in her life. All the stories are very realistic and give readers the details of how things commonly work in the legal profession. The stories about The Confinement and The Criminal, where Sia visits a prison and meets prisoners as a part of research for her Legal firm, will give a new perspective to readers, who have only seen clichéd portrayals of prisons and prisoners in movies and police procedurals.

This book talks about law with a dash of satire, and is an engaging introduction to a world of law. The stories are concise and deft, and are simplistically written. Sia as a protagonist is immensely likable, to the readers’ delight. There are some editing glitches in the book, but otherwise it is a smooth read. This is a book which brings forth recondite stories and information for those who don’t know much about the legal profession, and should also be read by those from within the profession, for they might relate to it in some way.

This book, through its concise and simplistic stories, provides fascinating insights into the world of law and the legal profession, which will spur many readers to read more about it. This book will find an easy audience with anyone wanting to know more about the legal profession, the working of courts, and the lives of law interns and lawyers. It is a coming-of-age story of the protagonist Sia, and readers should definitely pick up this book, for it is a light, yet informative read.