The following edition of the text was used in the creation of this study guide: Miller, Suzie. Prima Facie. Nick Hern Books, 2022. Kindle AZW file.

Tessa Ensler, a criminal barrister in London, thrives on the challenge of courtroom defence. She describes cross-examining a prosecution witness, using strategic questioning to undermine the case and secure a dismissal. After winning, she observes the emotional reunion of her client and his mother. Visiting her family in Liverpool, Tessa argues with her mother, who disapproves of her work, and clashes with her unemployed brother. Recalling her first day at Cambridge, Tessa remembers the lecturer’s warning that one in three students won’t succeed. She assumes her classmates doubt her due to her working-class background.

At work, Tessa discusses upcoming cases with her colleague Alice, who notes Tessa’s frequent assignments to sexual assault cases. Tessa cites the cab rank rule, which prevents barristers from refusing cases, but Alice questions whether this is used as an excuse. Tessa has lunch with Adam, a senior colleague. They mock a naïve graduate, Sophie, who once asked a client if he was guilty. Tessa explains that a barrister’s job is to defend the client’s version of events, not determine the truth. She believes defence lawyers uphold the law by ensuring doubt is examined and blames weak prosecution for guilty clients going free.

Tessa and a colleague named Julian grow close while working late. One night, they drink vodka in the office and have sex. She declines to go home with him but considers seeing him again.

In court, Tessa aggressively cross-examines a police officer. She reflects on how sexual assault cases often lack evidence beyond testimony and how the defence only needs to create reasonable doubt. She claims to sympathize with alleged victims but focuses on winning cases. She recalls a case involving a woman named Jenna, who said she was pressing charges to protect other women from her attacker. After Tessa’s client was acquitted, Jenna collapsed in distress, and for the first time, Tessa panicked, questioning whether he was guilty. She suppressed the thought, blaming weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.

Tessa meets Julian for dinner, and they drink heavily. At her flat, they have consensual sex, but later, when she becomes ill and resists, Julian holds her down and rapes her. He falls asleep while Tessa cries in the shower, imagining how the case would look in court. She leaves and tries to take a taxi to the train station, but the driver refuses. When he realizes she is in distress, he softens, and she instead asks to go to a police station.

She reports the assault to the police. The officer asks if she fought back and if there is evidence of injuries on Julian. She refuses to hand over her phone and realizes she may have washed away forensic evidence by having a shower immediately after the assault. The officer remarks that Julian’s defence barrister could argue anything, prompting Tessa to reveal that both she and Julian are defence lawyers. Tessa undergoes a medical exam after the assault. Julian texts her, and she deletes the first message before realizing it was evidence that she should have kept. She screenshots the next one.

At court, Tessa’s mum supports her as she struggles with self-blame. She feels like she is the one on trial while Julian sees himself as the victim. Entering the courtroom, she is shocked to see only men among the legal professionals. As she prepares to testify, she reflects on her faith in the justice system. On the stand, Tessa testifies while internally cross-examining herself.

Tessa is cross-examined by Julian’s defence barrister, who tries to undermine her account and suggest she fabricated the accusation to sabotage Julian’s career. She confidently dismantles his arguments, refusing to be trapped by his questioning. As the barrister continues pressing her, Tessa interrupts to make her own case. The judge intervenes, but she keeps speaking. The defence requests a voir dire, sending the jury out.

Tessa addresses the court, arguing that victims of sexual assault are seen as unreliable due to trauma and that the law must change. She cites historical shifts in rape laws as proof that progress is possible. She declares that one in three women are assaulted and urges the court to take action. The jury returns. The verdict is not guilty. Julian’s friends cheer while Tessa states that the system made her look like a liar. She refuses to be silenced, closing the play by saying: “Something has to change” (108).