Some legal representatives are more willing to 'lead' their clients than others. They may say, 'The judge will look more kindly on you, if you can tell your story this way instead of that way'. They may even say, 'Listen, if you really are as guilty as I suspect, don't try to deny it, admit it. It will work out better for you.' All I'm really trying to point out here is that excuses rarely 'excuse' anyone from anything. Even explanation will only bring mitigation, if it is a good one. If something won't stand up on its own today, don't try to prop it up.If you haven't got a contract written down, how can you be sure that someone else will honour their agreement with you? Then again, even if you have a legal document drawn up by the world's most eminent and reputable practitioner, how can you be sure that a judge will decide that it is worth the paper that it is printed on? There isn't much money to be made from advising people to trust one another. Indeed there is a lot of profit to be reaped from mistrust. But trust always leads to more trust.