Defending the Guilty

Will Packham is an idealistic pupil barrister - or idealistic for now. His clients are at least as guilty as sin. His pupil-master Caroline thinks he is a gutless snowflake. His fellow pupils want the same job as him and would stab each other to get it. Over the course of two days, Will has to defend a would-be murderer, keep a young slam poet out of custody and fetch Caroline a range of pastries. Can Will hold onto his principles and prove he has what it takes?

Caroline and Will take on a last-minute case, only to find themselves in a battle with the clock, a skittish victim and an underfunded system to bring a horrible criminal to justice. Meanwhile, the pupils’ battle for tenancy heats up, alliances are formed, and things get dirty.

Chambers is putting the pupils through their paces in a professionally acted mock trial. Will learns the brutal art of cross-examination from Caroline - only to find it is a skill he needs in his personal life too.