마사는 가게 점원을 폭행하고 살인미수죄로 기소된 청년의 변호를 맡지만 전과가 많고 폭력적인 의뢰인의 성향 때문에 재판은 쉽게 풀리지 않는다.

Clive is in Oxford, prosecuting three students accused of sexually assaulting a waitress. Up against an intimidating defence counsel, Clive begins to waver, but a chance encounter with an old friend helps him discover a passion for prosecuting he did not know he had. When the case is in danger of collapsing, Clive is faced with one of the biggest decisions of his career.

Meanwhile, Martha is defending Ricky Armitage, who trashed his local mini-mart and attacked the shopkeeper. His level of violence and lack of remorse is astounding, yet Martha tries to divert the self-destructive path that Ricky was fated to walk.