No contest, for example

PLEA

Think of what a defendant might enter in court to avoid a trial, often as part of a deal. It starts with the same sound as "please.

In legal terms, a "plea" is a defendant's formal response to a charge, like "guilty" or "no contest." The clue hints at "no contest" as an example of such a plea, where the defendant doesn’t admit guilt but accepts punishment. The answer plays on the idea that "no contest" is a type of plea, making "PLEA" the straightforward solution.