Strathclyde Law Professor wins top book prize

Professor Alan Paterson OBE was awarded the Society of the Inner Temple’s 2015 Book prize by Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, on 9 December for his book Final Judgment: The Last Law Lords and the Supreme Court.

The prize recognises outstanding legal authorship and carries a main award of £12,000. It was set up to encourage writing that improves the understanding of law.

Professor Paterson said: “It is a great honour to receive this prize. I am most grateful to the Inner Temple for instigating this award and even more so that it has gone to this book.

“In a very real sense the success of Final Judgment in contributing to our understanding of the way the law is administered in England and Wales should be attributed to the assistance and trust afforded to me by the Supreme Court Justices, Law Lords and senior barristers who participated in the research leading to its publication.”

Professor Paterson was joined at the prize giving by Dr Claire Fenton-Glynn, who won the “New Author’s prize” with her book, Children’s Rights in Intercountry Adoption.

Patrick Maddams, chief executive of the Inner Temple, said: “The Inner Temple is delighted to be celebrating the achievement of these two authors.

“Professor Paterson and Dr Fenton-Glynn submitted outstanding legal academic books.

“The Prize affirms the Inn’s commitment to legal scholarship and to the training of lawyers both now and in the future. The judging panel was delighted to receive such a wide range of submissions and our celebrations are marked by regret for those left off the list.”

The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple is one of the four barrister Inns of Court of England and Wales.

The Inns provide support for barristers and students through educational activities, and hold the exclusive right to call candidates to practise at the Bar.