Kuzak has to battle racial prejudice and too much media coverage as he tries to defend Earl Williams, a black college professor against charges that he murdered a white college co-ed who was his lover Nina Corry. Meanwhile, a domineering Grace earns the devotion of an insurance claims adjuster she is prosecuting for fraud, who gets turned on by S&M. Becker finds himself inspired in negotiation a settlement for his latest divorce client, Corrinne Hammond. Also, McKenzie asks Victor to give advice to Benny on the niceties of safe sex.

The Earl Williams murder trial continues as Kuzak tries to evaluate witnesses sympathetic to Earl Williams as the case draws to a close. But then, Kuzak makes the colossal mistake of putting Earl Williams on the witness stand where after Kuzak's gentle direct examination, the aggressive prosecutor, Margaret Flanagan, grills Williams about his past domestic abuse to provoke a violent reaction from him. Earl Williams' arrogant and defensive behavior on the witness stand dooms him to a quick conviction from the conservative and predominately white jury. Meanwhile, Becker tries to clear the air with Corrinne over his actions during her divorce and they get close fast while Becker is drawn to her 8 year old daughter, Chloe. Rollins takes on an insurance company on behalf of an elderly lady and gets some help from Brackman. Also, McKenzie scares Diana during a law class when he disapproves of her dating co-workers, which includes Rollins.

Victor once again faces off against the crafty dwarf attorney, Hamilton Schuyler, who's the opposing counsel representing a nightclub owner where Victor's client brings a complaint to stop dwarf tossing contests at the club. Kuzak discovers a witness who may be able to clear Earl Williams, but has some complications when the witness, a convicted drug dealer, may not be reliable. Meanwhile, Kelsey feels pressure from many of her peers when she agrees to help a friend sue pro-life abortion activists who have been harassing abortion clinics. Also, Roxanne volunteers to help Markowitz who is planning to go to court on behalf of a dating service being sued by an dissatisfied woman customer.

Kuzak goes the final mile as tries to lighten the sentence on Earl Williams, who is facing the death penalty after being convicted of murder. Meanwhile, Markowitz loses his cool when Kelsey goes into labor early and 20 hours later give birth to a baby boy. Benny celebrates the Christmas holidays by planning to propose to Alice and asks both Becker and Leo Hackett on advice on how to do so. Also, Becker faces the holidays alone when Corrinne decides to let Chloe's father spend the weekend with them at her home, and Victor plays Santa at the annual office Christmas party.

A desperate Kuzak sweats out of preparations for his appeal before the California Supreme Court in a final attempt to overturn the conviction on Earl Williams on a technicality. Meanwhile, Rollins becomes upset when Rosalind brings in another big client; a factory with substantial South African holdings. Also, Becker's new client is Al Vogel, the bitter ex-husband of a TV newswoman who threatens to go public with a pornographic video tape of her.

Kuzak uses new evidence and a testimony by a very hostile witness to plead for a new trial for Earl Williams. Meanwhile, Victor defends Dr. Michael Dayan, a surgeon being sued for wrongful death by a woman after he refused to perform emergency surgery on her injured husband who was infected with AIDS, and the opposing counsel, Mark Gilliam, who himself secretly has AIDS, tries to get the jury and Victor to look on the positive side of a man with the disease. The firm is rocked by the resignation of Leland McKenzie after 25 years, but the scramble to succeed him starts immediately with Brackman, Markowitz and Rosalind pitted against each other and Rosalind wins due to her skill of manipulation and deception.

The firm worries about its reputation when Kittredge takes a high-profile criminal case of defending a mobster leader for allegedly murdering a rival mob leader and the new D.A., Ruby Thomas, becomes determined to see the case won at any cost. Meanwhile, Markowitz takes a rare court deposition in representing two women basketball players suing the Hollywood Hoopsters for wrongful termination.

Mullaney aids fellow lawyer, Alex DePalma, in a class action suit by Honduran banana farmers suing an American chemical company who claim that a company-designed pesticide made them sterile. Meanwhile, Margaret Flanagan (The district attorney who unsuccessfully prosecuted Earl Williams for the murder of Nina Corry in Season 4) confides in Zoey about her troubled past as she begins to confront long-repressed memories of child abuse. Kelsey goes out on a dinner date with Matthew's nanny, Ned, while Markowitz meets a regal actress he admired as a child.

Margaret Flanagan hires Kittredge to represent her in her civil suit against her allegedly abusive father. Meanwhile, McKenzie, although on a diet, ends up as the gastronomic judge in a humorous dispute between a noted cookbook author and her former pupil, a rising chief. Also, Rollins' father, a lawyer, arrives in town for a visit and for legal help while Mrs. Rollins, a civil rights activist, meets Zoey with undisguised hostility.