Briefs Encounter

Criminal lawyers don't really enjoy the best of reps among most of the general public and 'The Briefs' (ITV) will have confirmed their many prejudices about the field; an industry in itself, slightly 'tricky' and enabling the 'revolving door' system of charge/release/charge. This fly-on-the-wall doc followed Manchester criminal law firm Tuckers as they met their clients and the series producers sure picked some real oddballs (not just the lawyers) to feature, some of whom seemed to be serial repeat offenders well savvy about their rights. However...the 'Briefs' appeared conscientious and to be doing the best for their hapless clients (there, that should be enough not to get 'thetvreviewguy' sued). In one instance,Tuckers succeeded in getting the charges dropped against a possible murder suspect who, to this reviewer anyway, really did appear to have been wrongly charged in the first place. And...if, you were to end up in a prison cell being charged with a crime you didn't commit, or were looking for mitigation, you'd want the best, sneakiest, smartest, most devious lawyer on your side. For many, there's an instinctive reaction to regard the field as a bit spivvy but the presumption of innocence is really important in any well functioning democracy. Defence lawyers will always seek new lines of attack when it comes to winning their case. 'The Briefs' had some good access and was never patronising but left the viewer slightly in despair about the universal theme of Crime and Punishment. While not discussing into the socio-economic casues of crime, 'The Briefs' was a very good insight into the human face of the wrong end of the law; worth more than a 'brief' look.