A lot of high profile cases this week: had me wondering (not for the first time) about barristers.

How do the conversations with their clients go? E.g if the plea is likely to be not guilty, are they like ''tell me everything and be honest, and I'll see if we can make a case'' or are they ''if you tell me something that I can't defend it will place me in a difficult position so it's best I don't know''.

I guess what I'm asking is - do barristers defend clients on not guilty pleas knowing they are really guilty? And if so, what about the question of ethics and morality?