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.

Sid Hershberg, a mentally unstable, overworked and underpaid attorney, begs Kuzak to take over one of his many pro bono cases of Nina Emmons, a woman jailed for over five months on an attempted murder charge. Meanwhile, Becker tries to persuade the firm to hire some tall man as a temporary associate to bolster the office basketball squad for an important game after Victor leaves. Kelsey fumes while Markowitz redecorates his new office, but her mood changed when he gives it to her as a gift. Abby tries to start her life over again when her ex-husband returns with their son. Also, Grace is put on night court duty for an indefinite period.

Grace has difficulty prosecuting four elderly bank robbers and facing their elderly lawyer. Due to his losing streak in the courtroom for the past several months, Kuzak gets passed over for an important case and is given a second chair with Becker on a contract dispute between film producer Melanie Hayes and her studio. McKenzie finally tells Jennifer Kepler that they can't see each other anymore because of their age differences. Also, Rollins takes on his first murder case in defending Wanda Havens, a poor young woman charged with murdering her abusive husband.

Victor is moved by a mother's pleas and agrees to make an emotional appeal for clemency for Hector Rodriguez, a old friend on death row facing execution. Meanwhile, Grace tackles her first case for the firm in defending an elderly man for the mercy killing of his wife who was dying from Alzheimer's Disease. Kelsey represents a frustrated Chicago Bears fan who is suing the team's staff. Kuzak's plans to leave the firm suddenly change when his father decides to come live his last days in Los Angeles. Also, Becker worries about his past life and about his mother's advice as he prepares to marry Corrinne.

Kuzak strikes back at the firm with a vengeance by trying to drain it of all its financial assets as well as trying to lure away Grace, Victor, Abby and Rollins to help form his own law firm, prompting McKenzie and Brackman to file a lawsuit against him. But Kuzak counters by filing a suit against the firm to be put in receivership. Mullaney defends a Christian Science couple accused of involuntary manslaughter in the death of their son. Jack Sollers is hired by McKenzie and Brackman as their new head litigator for a two month period. Meanwhile, C.J. travels with Zoey to Palm Springs to help teach a class of law to a group of foreign lawyers, in an unorthodox way.

Grace receives a lot of hostility from her female colleagues when she defends a college baseball player accused of date rape. Meanwhile, Alex DePalma becomes embroiled in a complex courtroom sting operation headed by Ruby Thomas to nail a corrupt judge. Roxanne and Becker's tentative relationship is nearly capsized by Julie's revelations to her. Also, Markowitz gets Sarah a job at the firm with Kelsey's tentative approval.