Pilot episode for the TV series introduces the lawyers and employees of McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney and Kuzak, a Los Angeles law firm, in dealing with their courtroom cases and personal matters out of the courthouse. While the entire office deals with the unexpected death of one of the founding senior partners, Norman Chaney, junior partner Michael Kuzak reluctantly takes on the defense of a wealthy and spoiled young man, accused with two friends, of raping a woman dying from leukemia. While intern Abby Perkins deals with her abusive alcoholic husband, divorce lawyer Arnie Becker takes advantage of his latest client caught up in her divorce. Public defender Victor Sifuentes is also offered to join the firm, while the ruthless managing partner, Douglas Brackman, deals with a surprising revelation from his new secretary.

Kuzak sets his sights on Deputy D.A. Grace Van Owen while he helps Victor defend a Hispanic man from an assault charge after he became enraged when his son's killer, a wealthy man, was set free on a legal technicality. Meanwhile, Kelsey faces criticism from Brackman when she turns down a large insurance settlement for her pro-bono client. Andrew Taylor, a disgruntled associate, tells the senior partner, Leland McKenzie, and Brackman what he thinks of the firm's hiring policies as they pursue the hiring of Victor. Stuart Markowitz, the firm's tax specialist, tries to get Kelsey's attention. At the reading of Chaney's will, Georgia Buckner inherits the majority of his wealth, and Brackman gets Chaney's own personal secretary, Hilda. Abby asks Becker to represent her in suing for divorce from her abusive husband. After Andrew Taylor quits the firm and law clerk Bruce Pollak leaves, Abby is named a full-time associate. Also, Becker also insists to the partners for the dismissal of law clerk Lisa Weston, his secret girlfriend.

Victor suffers through a dinner with the Brackmans when they want him to romance (and marry) their Hispanic maid who is threatened with deportation. Meanwhile, Markowitz finds himself in the middle of a fierce tax-audit between sleazy millionaire Irving Lewis, and alcoholic IRS agent Marv Fletcher in which Markowitz resorts to lying about Lewis' tax claims. Kuzak's personal-injury suit against an amusement park becomes complicated by his young client's greedy, adoptive father. Also, Abby's personal troubles take a turn for the worse when she learns that her husband has kidnapped their three-year-old son Eric.

McKenzie takes a dim view of future lawyers after his guest lecture at a law school which is filled by questions from the students dominated by self-interest. McKenzie's secretary, Iris, takes a dim view of her future with the firm and of the new law clerk, Jeffrey Sullivan, whom McKenzie hires. Meanwhile, Irving Lewis follows Becker's advice concerning his divorce, then blames him when his young wife won't return to him. Victor goes to bat for a young girl facing charges after she shot her brother who tried to rape her. Kuzak meets with Grace's fiancé while continuing to try to win her affections, and Markowitz wows Kelsey with his private life. Abby tries to continue working despite not knowing the whereabouts of her son.

Kuzak represents Harry Finneman, an elderly man who is fighting for his constitutional right to be freeze-dried after his death. Becker pursues Hilary Mishkin, a screenwriter client who is divorcing her director husband. Meanwhile, Markowitz and Kelsey represent a toy company president whose office faces a hostile takeover bid and they receive offers for partnership in return for their successful defense. At the end, Kuzak goes totally ape, literally, when he crashes Grace's wedding dressed in a gorilla suit and proclaims his love for her.

The Stacey Gill civil suit continues when she baffles Kuzak by rejecting a generous settlement from her former employer. Meanwhile, Victor bets Kuzak his leather office chair that he can win in a no-win dog bite case. Abby meets with another lawyer in the building who takes her out on a date and tries to persuade her to go on with her life. Also, Becker turns to his secretary, Roxanne, for comfort when Hilary Mishkin leaves him. A fully restored Brackman comes to peace terms with his tenants and Andrew Taylor.

While McKenzie is dealing with Judge Morris Hood facing bribery charges, he's asked by another senior partner from a national firm in New York, named Marshal Taft & Associates, to merge their two organizations which raises many expectations. Meanwhile, Roxanne and the other secretaries resent the intrusion of two efficiency experts from Marshal Taft. Also, Abby has her first solo court appearance and gets burned for her poor preparation.

Brackman's sudden self-consciousness about his baldness prompts anxiety in the other men of the firm as well. Meanwhile, Grace's brush with death at the hands of a gang member leaves her fearful and resentful of Kuzak's and everyone's protective attitude. Roxanne inspires strength in Becker's timid client, but warns her about rebound romances. Also, Victor gains a courtroom admirer after he defends a man's use of marijuana as a religious sacrament.

Brackman's quarrel with an eccentric neighbor's complaint about his barking dog escalates dramatically when the fight turns ugly and physical. Meanwhile, Kuzak faces a tough opposing counsel when he represents a young woman suing a football jock in a date rape civil suit. Kelsey and Markowitz argue over the sale of her condominium, and Abby tentatively tries a new romance with George Handeman.

Victor's love for Lauren is tested when she's arrested after she shoots and kills her ex-husband and it appears to have been premeditated. Although Victor gets the murder charges against Lauren dropped, he's still skeptical about her story of self-defense and breaks up with her. Meanwhile, Abby discovers Erroll in Brackman's office and learns of his arrangement with him while Sheila seduces Erroll as payback after learning of Brackman' affair, in which he suffers an anxiety attack. Grace prosecutes Reuben Mendez, a teenager who has been accused of killing his own father after years of abuse. Benny plays Santa at the annual Christmas party, where Becker persuades Roxanne to go with him to visit his parents for the holidays.

After Brackman' estranged mother dies, he learns that he has yet another bald half-brother, named Gordon Salt, from another one of late father's mistresses. Gordon, a psychiatrist, tries to help Douglas with his marital problems with Sheila, when really he wants her for himself. Meanwhile, Abby and Rollins learn more about each other as they work late hours to document a potential class action suit. McKenzie tries to help Victor settle a lawsuit brought by a woman against August Redding, a elderly legendary lawyer who's mental facilities are slowly leaving him. Kuzak tries to coax Grace out of her self-imposed retirement by offering a position as co-counsel for Andy Prescott and Thomas Mullaney, two teenage boys accused of a felony murder in connection with a convenience store robbery.