Barristers: Fighting For Justice | Preview (Channel 4)

Following some of the country's leading defence barristers as they fight for clients accused of the most serious crimes and reveal what it takes to keep the scales of justice balanced.

The barristers handle everything from speeding fines to murder, shop lifting to armed robbery, high stakes fraud to drugs conspiracy. Miss a vital piece of evidence and their clients could face years behind bars, make a mistake and you could destroy a life. 

For the first time we get to see the work that goes into preparing ‘the defence’ – from walking the crime scene to forensic examination – to win their case they are going to have to try harder, and be better, than the police, crown prosecution and the might of that side of the British justice system.

The Defenders marks new territory – following the day-to-day life of a team of dedicated barristers, who turn the old fashioned image of all barristers looking like ‘Rumpole of the Bailey’ on its head. We get to know them as people -  their life outside work, their families, friendships, ‘keep sane’ hobbies and late-night heart to hearts. This is a tough, stressful, superficially glamorous world where a sense of humour is essential and loyalty is everything.

What happens when a small cast of characters are faced with a shifting landscape of choice and dilemma, decision and indecision, probability and error, lies and  the quest for truth.

In the first episode, Criminal defence barrister Matthew Radstone faces a high-pressure battle to defend a cab driver accused of transporting cocaine worth £1million as part of an international drugs conspiracy. Leon-Nathan Lynch takes on a complex case of alleged carjacking at knifepoint. His client claims the robbery was staged for the insurance money, but his co-accused sings a different tune.

Barristers: Fighting For Justice begins Tuesday 15th April on Channel 4.