Every day, like every criminal barrister in this country, Alex McBride stands up in court and attempts to save people from criminal conviction, prison, even a lifetime behind bars. Sometimes he's had only a few hours to prepare his case. In this memoir, he takes us behind the scenes of Britain's criminal justice system introducing us to its outlandish personalities and its many moving stories of triumph and defeat. Whether he's defending hapless teenagers or prosecuting gold bullion robbers, his hair-raising tales reveal all the secrets of courtroom success and what it takes to survive in this chaotic world. Throughout he attempts to answer that most important question: how do we ensure that the guilty are convicted and the innocent walk free?