Silk

At the Supreme Court, Martha is representing Jackson Henderson in a death row case. Against a ticking clock and with Billy breathing down her neck, Martha faces the toughest legal argument of her career. Clive increasingly feels that he is not the right barrister for Fatima Ali and, at the risk of losing George, persuades Martha to take the brief, conveniently leaving him free to prosecute Jody Farr. Martha knows unless Fatima speaks up for herself, the truth will not surface. Just as she thinks the case is lost, Martha is offered a deal with the devil in return for Fatima's freedom.

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.

Martha Costello is now a QC, but she learns fast that it can be lonely at the top. At Shoe Lane Chambers times are tough, and senior clerk Billy struggles to keep things afloat while Clive Reader tries to be stoic about his unsuccessful silk application. Martha is defending Brendan Kay, a member of one of London's biggest crime outfits. He is accused of blinding a man, who allegedly disrespected their 'number two'. Martha's job is made harder because Brendan's solicitor, Micky Joy, is an old school player of the system who walks both sides of the line. Also up against a notorious QC, Caroline Warwick, nicknamed Lady MacBeth for her uncompromising approach in court, Martha feels herself pulled by the various political forces around her, and realises to win she will need an all or nothing defence. Meanwhile, Clive takes on a sensitive case with a new solicitor, George Duggan.

Martha prosecutes a teacher accused of assaulting a pupil, but believes he is on too serious a charge and is not being properly defended by her colleague, Noah. Meanwhile, Nick takes on his first major case, and both Martha and Clive have their Silk interviews. Will Martha be able to ensure a fair trial for the teacher at the same time as succeeding in her interview?

Martha defends a vulnerable teenager and the pupils are given their first opportunity to stand up in court, taking on a low-level magistrates' court case. However, as the cases progress, both Martha and Nick find themselves in challenging positions. Can Martha save her client without endangering not only her silk application, but also her career?

Having just won an important case, Martha is given two new cases for the next day, with a chance of getting a good reference for her Silk application. Under huge time pressure, Martha has to prepare overnight. But will she be able to satisfy both the personal and the professional demands placed on her? Or will she be forced to sacrifice one case in order to win the other?