A civil-rights issue hinges on the casting choice for a version of "Annie"; a child-custody battle turns ugly; an adultery case involves Crane.

An ex-lover haunts Shore, who secures the woman's release from a psychiatric hospital where she was confined after trying to kill him. Elsewhere, Crane fights an opposing counsel's sanction charges.

A client of Crane, Poole & Schmidt want to build a shopping mall on an area where salmon are spawning and Denny’s son is the environmental lawyer defending the area. Alan and Lori take a sexual harassment case and learn that Christine, whom he recently helped get released from a mental institution and who he now fears is stalking him, is opposing counsel. Sally has her first trial case where she defends a man who is accused of stealing a wallet.

A cop killing centers on a haughty defendant, reluctantly represented by Lori and zealously by a firm veteran, who has been a patient in a mental facility. Meanwhile, Shore plays hardball with a witness in a shoplifting case involving a kleptomaniac CEO.

Seniors take on a drug firm in a class-action case handled by the grandstanding Crane. Also: revenge motives are raised in a murder trial; and medical ethics are at issue in a civil suit.

Shore's dream lover from college, now wed to a slick mayoral candidate, hires Shore to block his opponent's provocative TV-ad campaign. Meanwhile, a power struggle embroils Crane.

A showcase for the wily, agitating Alan Shore, who badgers a dotty judge; romances Tara, whom he surreptitiously helps in a thorny criminal case; and backs Crane, who's been arrested for solicitation.

Alan help a department store Santa sue to get his job back after he is terminated for being a transvestite. Brad bets Alan that he won't win. A therapist seeks Lori's help when one of his patients fantasizes about killing his ex-wife.

Alan and Denny defend a drug company that is being sued by a woman who states they provided false reasoning when they took her off of an experimental pill that was a possible cure for her sickness. Alan and Denny discover a shocking secret that could make or break their case and because of that, they become at odds with each other on how to proceed. Lori discovers that Tara's new information for their case would win it for them, but the way she retrieved it could cost them their case and their careers. Lori learns a secret about Brad.

Lori and Brad defend a woman who is accused of murdering her husband and his mistress while they were in bed together. Alan's life is endangered when he helps a woman whose ex-husband plans to kidnap their children.

A Sudanese native wants to sue the U.S. government for the lack of action taken against the mayhem happening in his country and Paul looks to Lori to take the case. Founding partner Shirley Schmidt arrives with a mission to bring order to the firm. While making herself known, she has to deal with Denny who does not wanting her there, help with Lori's extremely high profile case, and learns that she has to keep her eye on Alan. Alan ends up defending a man who killed his mother in a fit of rage but by accident.

Lori, along with Denny and Shirley, defends a school superintendent who fired two science teachers because they refused to teach creationism and is now being sued by them. Alan learns his assistant has expressed concern about their work relationship. While dealing with that issue, Alan discovers that his client Bernard Ferrion, who killed his mother, needs legal help again. One of the members of the firm is fired and learns that a close associate is not too keen on lending a supportive hand.

Brad becomes attracted to his client who being sued for having a relationship with her boss merely for financial purposes. To make matters more difficult, Brad convinces himself that she is lying about her being a lesbian. Alan is asked to second chair on Denny's trial case where a doctor is being sued for prescribing a drug that has not been FDA approved. While working on that, Denny is on a personal mission to prove that he is a competent attorney. Meanwhile, the staff tries to deal with Alan's out-spoken new assistant, Catherine Piper.

While out with Tara, Alan ends up causing a bar room brawl and as a result, becomes arrested for conspiracy to commit assault and battery. Shirley and Denny represent a man whose steakhouse is being put out of business because the public wants to ban red meat for fear of Mad Cow disease.

Shirley asks Alan Shore to use his odious lawyering to help her defend a police officer accused of torture. Donny Crane returns and is the opposing counsel in Denny's case, with Chelina Hall as second chair, where a woman wants to sue her former boyfriend for saying no to her at the alter. For Denny, this is an easy case, for Donny this is to settle a score with Denny for letting him believe for 25 years that he was his father. Meanwhile, Bernard Ferrion is befriended by Catherine and Alan finds variance with that.

Milton Bombay is asking the courts to allow him to be frozen until another century so he can continue his legacy of being a great lawyer and needs Denny and Shirley to defend him. Alan and Chelina defends a high school student who accuses his teacher of censorship when he blocks out a news station on the school's televisions.

Chelina asks Alan to assist her in Texas because her former client is getting executed but may be innocent of the crime. An old friend of Denny and Shirley asks them for legal representation when she charged with having sexual encounters for a fee. Lori files a complaint about Denny with Shirley and Paul and they seriously consider doing something about it; especially when they suspect he performed an unethical act on his recent case.

Terminally ill Daniel Post needs Denise and Shirley's help after running afoul of the law. Meanwhile, Alan defends Jerry after his driving habits lead to trouble.

Crane Poole & Schmidt's new lawyer makes his mark while defending a man charged with killing a judge. Meanwhile, Denny's Internet romance creates trouble at the firm, and Alan helps a cross-dresser who's out of a job.

Shirley finds an unlikely--but familiar--foe in court when her ex-husband, Ivan, wants to get rid of his postnuptial agreement to his current wife. Meanwhile, Coho engages in questionable practices in an important case, and Denny's online date avers that size doesn't matter.

Denny is attracted to feisty lawyer Bethany Horowitz as they try a case against an HMO, and Alan grows more attracted to Shirley as they defend a homeless man accused of cannibalism. Meanwhile, Coho continues his defense of accused murderer Scott Little.

The media spotlight intensifies as Coho's high-profile murder case goes to trial; Alan finds himself defending Jerry Espenson--again--but also sees another familiar face in court; and Denny's feelings for Bethany grow.

A shocking allegation of Oedipal proportions in the Scott Little case threatens to torpedo Coho's defense; Alan seeks outside help to breathe some life into his relationship with Sally.

Halloween brings Denise startling news about Daniel Post; Denny meets Bethany's mother; Jerry needs Alan's help with a federal jury matter; and the fallout from the Scott Little case continues for Coho when he's sued by the Hooper's nosy neighbor.

Shirley finds herself attracting the attention of the eccentric Lincoln Meyer; Denny, Bella and Bethany prepare themselves for the results of his paternity test; and Alan helps Jerry with his defense in a difficult murder case.

Lincoln's obsession with Shirley takes a dangerous turn; Jerry and Alan's collaboration in a murder trial leads to a scotch-and-cigar session, which makes Denny jealous.

Alan represents a mother fighting for custody of her preteen daughters, who happen to be white-supremacist singers; a woman reaches for the heavens to blame someone for her husband's death by lightning strike; a girl wants to be emancipated from her family; and Shirley and Alan's wager becomes public at the office Christmas party.

Alan goes to New Orleans to help a New York attorney with the defense of a doctor on trial for euthanizing five patients during Hurricane Katrina. Meanwhile, Clarence is thrown out of an all-female gym, and Coho tries to woo Denise.

Self-proclaimed patriot Denny needs Alan's assistance when his name shows up on a federal no-fly list; Shirley and Vanessa help a teacher in a wrongful-death suit after a student dies in class; Clarence adds another identity to his repertoire of characters.

Denny goes ape when Bella is the target of animal-rights activists, who are being represented by her daughter--and his diminutive ex-girlfriend--Bethany. Meanwhile, Brad has doubts about his secret trysts with Denise; Claire is surprised by a new suitor; and Paul believes a costume party will raise everyone's spirits.

Shirley tackles a case involving a drug remedy for trauma; Alan, Denny and Bethany help a judge who is unhappy with his sexual orientation; and Denise learns she's pregnant, but is unsure of the father's identity.

Denny is arrested for illegally exporting human fat to be used as a fuel source; Clarence tries his first case--a homicide--with the help of Bethany and Paul; and a member of the firm leaves.

Alan tries two different cases, including the defense of a therapist who was fired for his belief in UFOs. Meanwhile, Clarence is confused by Claire's dinner invitation; and Bethany tries to bring out Denny's spiritual side.

At the courthouse, Alan runs into an old flame and coworker, who's looking very guilty in a bloody wedding gown; Claire reluctantly defends a cell-phone thief; and Denny's prejudices are driving a wedge between him and Bethany.

The past comes back to haunt Denny when a vengeful man forces the firm to find a different outcome in a decades-old murder trial. Meanwhile, Alan is jailed for contempt of court while defending a prostitute.

Alan and Denny defend an unscrupulous lawyer accused of obstructing justice on behalf of his brother. Meanwhile, interoffice couples Brad and Denise and Claire and Clarence each deal with major relationship revelations; and Denny practices the positive-thinking philosophy known as "the secret" in order to wish Raquel Welch into his life.

Alan faces Jerry in court again in a case involving a department store's sale of allegedly lewd dolls; Shirley and Paul react to Denny's insensitive remark to a potential employee; and Denise considers a colleague's opinion regarding her relationship with Brad.

Denny lusts after Judge Weldon when Alan defends her in a drug case; a sorority girl's expulsion pits Clarence against Jerry; Brad expresses a desire for a military wedding, but it puts Denise in a fighting mood; and Shirley helps a former HIV patient hold on to his most-prized possession.

Alan takes on the United States of America based on a client's claims of torture for two years at a detention camp; Jerry pleads with Shirley to rehire him; and Claire defends a lawyer who was tricked into committing a crime by a radio prank.

Alan defends Brad and Denise's priest after he's arrested on their wedding day on charges of sheltering undocumented immigrants; Jerry helps a woman with a pet duck who was evicted from her apartment; and Denny counts a coveted sports trophy among his possessions.

Alan and Denny defend brothers charged with murdering their father; and Jerry and Clarence represent a woman with enormous gambling debts who blames her misfortune on a casino.