This examines three main areas where the language and law interact: the central issue of the language of the law; the disadvantage which language can impose before the law, and forensic linguistics. Each area is dealt with in a separate section which is preceded by an introduction from the editor and concluded by a response from a prominent lawyer who has a particular interest in the area. The contributors are: Professor Rebecca White Berch, Attorney General's Office, State of Arizona, USA; Dr Vijay K. Bhatia, National University of Singapore; Professor Bryna Bogoch, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel; Dr Mark Brennan, Charles Sturt University, New South Wales, Australia; John Carroll, Attorney-General's Department, Australia; Professor Malcolm Coulthard, The University of Birmingham, UK; Professor Brenda Danet, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel; Dr Diana Eades, University of New England, Australia; Dr Robert Eagleson, New South Wales, Australia; Dr John Gibbons, The University of Sydney, Australia; Dr Laurence Goldman, The University of Queensland, Australia; Dr Sandra Harris, Nottingham Trent University, UK; Wendell A. Harris, Philadelphia, USA. John Heydon QC, Selbourne Chambers, New South Wales, Australia; Dr Alex Jones, The University of Sydney, Australia; Professor William Labov, University of Pennsylvania, USA; Associate Professor Yon Maley, Macquarie University, Australia; Dr Francis Nolan, University of Cambridge, UK; Her Honour Judge Margaret O'Toole, Compensation Court of NSW, Australia; Professor Bethyl A. Pearson, Grand Canyon University, USA; Dr Jane Simpson, University of Sydney, Australia; Dr M. Wilfred Smith, University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Northern Ireland; Dr Michael Walsh, The University of Sydney, Australia.