John ""Jack"" Turner (Rob Lowe) has managed to evade the career expectations of others by working at his small pro-bono law clinic helping those without means who need legal representation. When the senior partner, Daniel Barrington (Kevin Cooney) at Lyon, LaCrosse and Levine suddenly dies, Terrence Christianson (James Pickens, Jr.), the head of the firm, calls on Jack to take Barrington's place. While Jack wants no part of it, Grant Rashton (Kyle Chandler) wants nothing more than to be Christianson's choice for the position. With the help of Rashton's scheming assistant, Brit Hanley (Frances Fisher), he will stop at nothing to get it. Also weaving her into the hierarchy of the firm is Ariel Saxon (Elizabeth Mitchell) who is struggling to battle alcoholism. Vying for her attention is paralegal, Jeff Fineman (David Krumholtz). With the sudden death of Turner's mentor, Barrington, Jack begins not only question his future role within the firm but the intentions of everyone around him.

Jack is shocked to confront a former lover who is a Department of Justice attorney assigned to prosecute his client, an FBI agent on charges of espionage – but thanks to Grant, Jack discovers the G-man's suspicious ex-girlfriend, who is the government's key witness.