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.

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.

Alan Shore and Brad Chase represent Kelly Nolan who is on trial for poisoning her husband. Meanwhile, Tara Wilson second-chairs for Shirley Schmidt and is shocked to find that the opposing counsel is her former lover, Malcolm Holmes. Garrett Wells and Sara Holt assist Denise Bauer on a case where a Jewish man felt violated when his Christian co-workers held Bible readings in the workplace. To make things worse, Denise is served with divorce papers.

The Kelly Nolan trial continues, but Alan, Denny and Brad run fear the worst when Kelly's cold demeanor begins to turn off the jury. Meanwhile, Garrett and Sara are enlisted to help Denise in her divorce settlement and Malcolm convinces Tara to represent Johnny Damon, Edwin Starr's nephew, whose performance of War strikes a nerve at a nightclub.

Denny takes Alan to Nimmo Bay, British Columbia, Canada, to help him get over his breakup with Tara. Catherine confesses to Bernard's murder. Sara and Garrett take extreme measures to help Denise challenge her husband's alimony demands in their divorce proceedings.

Denny's strong conservative values are put to the test when the firm represents a Democratic congressman who refused to keep a promise to his supporters. Alan tries to forget about Tara as he prepares to defend Catherine who is on trial for murder. Meanwhile, Sara is given a bizarre ultimatum.

Denise finds herself in a difficult position when an auto-injury case she neglected for three years comes up for trial and she is unprepared. While Garrett researches, he meets Cassie, a young paralegal whose strange sexual tendencies hide a painful past. Meanwhile Denny learns he must apologize to Lori or face a sexual harrassment suit, and Alan takes Sara out for dinner and a "show."

Denny is called to defend a man who raped and killed a 13-year-old girl, but decides he'd rather go to jail than spend his days defending murderers. Meanwhile, Alan must face his fear of clowns and Shirley dumps a bizarre bestiality case on Denise.

Alan's friendly demeanor quickly turns into anger when a prestigious private school turns away a child prodigy because she lacks the face muscles to smile.

Meanwhile, Shirley and Denise take on a hospital that refused to administer emergency birth control to a rape victim due to religious beliefs, and Brad is put on special assignment by Denny.

Alan and Denny defend a man charged with murder after he euthanized his wife with Alzheimers.

Meanwhile, long-lost family members return when Shirley's ex-husband asks her to be "best man" at his wedding and Paul tracks down his estranged daughter.

When Denny shoots his therapist in self-defense, the senior partners, fed up with his rogue behavior, begin to enact plans to remove him from the firm.

Meanwhile, Alan enlists the help of Chelina in a racially-charged case involving a black man being arrested for being in a white neighborhood, and Brad asks Denise to teach him to be a better kisser.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Senior partner Carl Sack clashes with Denny after the latter is arrested. Meanwhile, Shirley needs Alan's help when a university wants a donation, and Jerry assists another new attorney in a homicide case.

A new lawyer at the firm draws instant attention from Alan, who is busy helping Jerry and Katie on a murder trial and fielding an offer from Gloria to be the father of her child. Meanwhile, Clarence and Lorraine represent a woman whose affair with her pastor resulted in a loss of her faith.

Denny believes a bet against Carl Sack in a cockfighting case is a sure thing; Alan and Lorraine represent an HIV-positive girl in a suit against her school; a widow hires Katie and Jerry after her husband commits suicide.

Shirley answers the call when a military man, who is an old friend of Denny's, comes under fire for admitting he's gay; Alan endures another bout of incoherent speech; Katie helps a new associate with a bullfighter's custody battle.

A woman asks for Alan's advice on how to kill the man who murdered her daughter but was acquitted by reason of temporary insanity; Katie and Jerry try to overturn a child-molester-registry law to save a falsely accused client; and Lorraine tries to help Alan overcome deep-rooted childhood fears that cause him to speak gibberish whenever she's around.

Alan pushes a temporary-insanity defense when Patrice is accused of killing the man who murdered her daughter; Denny finds fault with an associate's physique; Jerry helps a kindred spirit find a personal treasure.

Denny needs Alan's help after using an employee's weight as a reason for dismissal; Clarence is upset by an Internet posting of him as Clarice; Katie and Whitney work on a murder case involving racism and the police; and Jerry is anxious about taking a relationship to the next level.

Shirley takes part in a case involving a radio personality's dismissal for using disrespectful language; Denny needs Alan's help after getting arrested; Katie wonders if Lorraine is hiding something.

Shirley's granddaughter gets kicked out of school for making a social statement; Alan and Denny take matters into their own hands to help a flood victim; Carl makes an important decision about his future; Lorraine makes a shocking revelation to Shirley.

Alan defends Clarence against a bank in a foreclosure case; a client challenges Denny's claims about the firm's commitment to the environment; concerned parents try to keep a teen from watching porn; Jerry's love life hits a rough patch; Carl weighs in on the fate of Lorraine's employment at Crane, Poole & Schmidt.

Shirley and Carl worry about the firm's reputation when Denny turns down Alan's assistance in order to go it alone on a headline-grabbing murder case. Meanwhile, Jerry and Katie help a woman who claims her husband's employer caused their divorce.

Shirley and Alan face off in court when they're on opposite sides of a case involving stolen sperm; Jerry helps his objectophile ex-girlfriend when she loses her teaching job for inappropriate contact with a student.

After enlisting Alan and Denny to help her friend, who's suing her town for its decision to build a nuclear power plant, Shirley discovers that the opposing counsel is her college sweetheart, a fact that is not lost on Carl Sack. Meanwhile, Leigh warns Katie to steer clear of her boyfriend, Jerry.

Carl helps Shirley's friend Andrea when she blames a company for botching the process of turning her mother's ashes into a diamond; Whitney takes on a high school over a student's untimely death; Clarence represents a woman who's suing her pastor after he ended their affair; Denny and Alan prepare for their Coast Guard test.

Alan and Jerry go after a tabloid talk show when a women is murdered for turning down a marriage proposal on the air. Meanwhile, Denny hopes a dinner invitation from Shirley will rekindle their long-ago romance, and Lorraine advises Alan to seek help after he confesses a childhood transgression.

Alan fields a difficult request from Shirley after her father suffers an injury while in the late stages of his battle with Alzheimer's; Carl represents a group of Nantucket residents who are concerned about homeland security; Jerry's new girlfriend sues him for sexual assault.

It's a lawyer's dream come true for Alan when he presents an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in a case involving a mentally challenged man who was convicted of statutory rape. Meanwhile, Lorraine shares startling news with Katie about Jerry's girlfriend.

Denny is head over heels for a cattle rancher who wants the government to stop the sale of cloned meat. Meanwhile, Shirley asks Alan to sue the Democratic Party when her nephew--a delegate--disagrees with his state's primary vote.

Jerry comes to the aid of his ex-girlfriend when she's collared for prostitution; Carl and Shirley help a woman who's suing the church for prohibiting her from becoming a priest; Denny is wooed by power brokers to run for president.

Alan and Denny mark their acceptance into the Auxiliary Coast Guard, but their relationship is tested when a Massachusetts town wants Alan to help it secede from the U.S., and Denny represents the opposition.

Alan answers a call for help from Bethany Horowitz in a suit against a tobacco giant, but he suffers a crisis of confidence when the opposing counsel turns out to be an old girlfriend. Meanwhile, Denny is plagued by a case of performance anxiety.

After an old girlfriend hires Alan to help her husband beat a murder charge, he faces a moral and professional dilemma when his lingering feelings for her elicit a secret desire for a conviction.

Alan and Denny sue the USDA on behalf of a cattle rancher who wants to test her entire herd for mad cow disease; Jerry's consideration to make partner hinges on an up-or-down vote by the firm's panel, which includes Paul Lewiston.

Alan and Shirley help a minor in a legal battle over her pregnancy, and Jerry takes up his own defense when he faces aggravated-assault charges after an encounter with a bully.

Shirley's quiet Thanksgiving with Carl becomes considerably louder when she opens her door to other members of the firm, including Alan, Denny, Jerry, Katie and emotionally unstable partner Edwin Poole, who brings his 6-year-old foster son.