Patrick Hastings

Sir Patrick Gardiner Hastings (March 17, 1880 - February 26, 1952) was a noted British barrister who served as Attorney General for England and Wales in 1924 and inadvertently brought down the first Labour government.

Early career

When the Boer War broke out, Hastings enlisted and served with the British Army. In 1901 Hastings returned to Britain determined to read for the bar, and paid his way through his studies at the Middle Temple by working as a journalist specialising in theatre gossip and reviews. He did well in his exams but when he qualified, he was forced to buy his robes and wig for his admission ceremony on credit in 1904. He then obtained an apprenticeship to a senior barrister and attended daily court sessions. He learned valuable lessons on how to structure a case, and adopted the maxim of never asking a question of a witness unless he knew the answer which would be given.

Related Topics:
Boer War - 1901 - Middle Temple - Journalist - Theatre - 1904

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