A Balloon Entertainment production, the series is co-created by Scottish writers Bryan Elsley (The Crow Road, Skins) and BBC Writers’ Drama Room graduate Gillian McCormack. 

Set in Glasgow, the eight-part series is made by Balloon Entertainment for BBCiPlayer, BBC One and BBC Scotland in association with All3Media International and in coproduction with ZDFneo.

Counsels follows the lives of a group of twenty-something lawyers in Glasgow in the crucial moment when a few years out of university their careers finally become serious. 

Working across the legal landscape, whether as public prosecutors, slick representatives of glossier commercial interests or the shabby and good-hearted last resort of those with nothing left to lose, each one of them is out to win. 

They are colleagues jostling for promotion, lovers trying to hold onto one another as ambitions accelerate and pure adversaries professionally and personally.

The young lawyers Jamie (Brandon Grace), Bav (Ro Kumar), Nadine (Eilidh Park), Alasdair (George Prentice), Katie (Alyth Ross) and Karina (Rebecca Bell) navigate their sometimes complex and messy lives whilst exploring the challenging yet thrilling world of law.

Mr Elsley said: “I am delighted to be leading with Gillian McCormack on Counsels. We look forward to introducing a galaxy of Scottish acting, writing and directing talent to our audience. Set entirely in Glasgow, we hope to bring the city vividly to life and fill it with arresting stories and characters.”

Ms McCormack added: “It’s been amazing to work with Bryan and see our incredible crew and phenomenal cast come together. Developing our characters and their worlds has been a brilliant experience and I can’t wait to share their stories set against the backdrop of the dynamic, exciting and contemporary city of Glasgow, of which I am hugely proud.”