After Kelsey and Markowitz discover the intimate relationship between McKenzie and Rosalind, they spearhead a movement to confront him about his highhanded ways. Meanwhile, Kuzak allows his jealous feelings about Grace to influence his reactions after learning about her involvement in the kidney broker affair. Victor hates himself after he's compelled to defend Lionel Sanders, an alleged sociopath murderer he believes has blatantly lied under oath. Becker takes a difficult divorce case of representing a young woman in her divorce from Leonard Bey, a vain, aging millionaire, while Roxanne and Corrinne plan a surprise 39th birthday party for Becker. Also, Abby remains bitter over being passed over for partner.

Brackman is representing three active senior citizens who are participating in tests for a testosterone patch and who are in danger of eviction from their senior citizens community for disruptive behavior. Meanwhile, Rollins goes to federal court to represent a dangerous, incorrigible inmate who petitions the court to close down the maximum-security prison at China Lake where he is incarcerated. The partners take sides in choosing a new associate, where Morales is strongly opposed to the hiring of Patrick Flanagan, a charming personal friend of McKenzie, by informing of his past history of suspected plagiarizing, planting false evidence, and enduing perjury in a past case which Morales' client was unfairly sent to prison. But when the partners decide to hire Flanagan anyway (due to McKenzie's presence)... Morales decides to quit!

Eli represents Lynn Barnett, an ad executive being sued for sexual harassment and wrongful termination by a copywriter with whom she had an affair. Meanwhile, Halliday's client, who's suing her contractor for earthquake damage, finds answers in the Bible, but leaves Jane in a quandary by refusing to accept a generous settlement which could help the firm. Denise suffers anxiety attacks as the after shocks from the major earthquake continue. Morales leaves the firm for good, and tries to warn everyone about the true colors of Patrick Flanagan as he arrives to fill his place.

New associate, Patrick Flanagan, throws his weight around the firm, charming everyone with his friendliness and even helps get Brackman and Sheila's son, Alexander, into an exclusive prep school. But he shows his true hidden and unwholesome colors when he crosses Becker while assisting him in a civil case of a woman suing her ex-husband for allegedly molesting their daughter when Flanagan persuades Becker's client not to testify and blackmails the opposing counsel for a large settlement, which incurs the wrath of Mullaney on Becker after the devious Flanagan places the blame on Becker. Meanwhile, Rollins' case puts him between a young model and her over-protective father, who is suing her for beach of contract.

Markowitz reluctantly takes a court case of a libel suit involving an investigative reporter who accused a nuclear physicist of conducting radiation experiments on unwitting subjects in the 1950s. Meanwhile, Kelsey handles a divorce case between a woman and her husband, a Grateful Dead fanatic. Also, Becker gets involved with district attorney Belinda Fox, who is determined to prosecute his client for pandering.

Flanagan takes the case of dentist Joseph Palmer, whose practice was destroyed by false rumors that he has AIDS, suing a rival dentist Frederick Schultz, who allegedly spread the rumors. Flanagan loses the case, but successfully pulls yet another fast one when he privately blackmails Schultz for a $750,000 settlement by threatening to spread false rumors about him... and keeps most of the settlement money for himself. Becker continues his steamy affair with Belinda, but a rumor about her participation in a past sting operation troubles him, as well as her increasing jealousy and unpredictability. Meanwhile, McKenzie takes the case of Ernie Frye who is being sued by Margo Stanton, the owner of an Afghan show dog, who claims her dog was impregnated by Frye's mutt and the eccentric Judge Zimring, the judge in charge of the case, enjoys the events and even brings his two Boston Terriers to watch the proceedings. Also, Becker complains to McKenzie and Brackman about Flanagan's devious and unscrupulous ways. But when McKenzie questions Flanagan about the allegations of his legal tactics, the two-faced, sociopath Flanagan convinces McKenzie that he has not done any wrongdoing of any kind in the past or now.

Becker tries to hush up his client, Frank Askoff's connections to Camilla Greer, a well-known Hollywood madam. Meanwhile, Rollins represents the father of an incorrigible teenager who is suing to be released from a rehab center to which her father had her committed. Eli goes to a broker to buy a luxury car for himself, but ends up getting arrested after learning that it's been stolen. Also, Mullaney learns from Belinda that she suspects Becker of obstruction of justice and threatens him not tell Becker that he's being followed around by private investigators hoping to find something to nail him on.

Becker blames Belinda's personal malice for his becoming a suspect in the murder of Camilla Greer, while the rest of the firm rallies around him to prove the charges are false and Jinx is hired to tail Askoff to find out if he had something to do with the murder. Meanwhile, Mullaney anticipates trouble with Judge Arthur Bryson, the man who used to date Judge Carolyn Walker, as he prosecutes a case under California's "three strikes" law. McKenzie makes an abrupt change of plans when he visits a doctor. Also, Denise becomes annoyed by the eccentric photocopier repairman's constant whistling.

McKenzie throws the firm into a turmoil when he announces his plans to retire as they prepare to throw him a surprise 65th birthday party. Meanwhile, Becker thinks that he's reached rock bottom of his life at the age of 42, and he reaches out to Halliday to comfort him who takes him to a church. Eli represents Isidore Schoen, an elderly clothing manufacturer, being sued by his son in a power struggle over who will guide the family business. Also, Benny and Rosalie face a crisis in their marriage when Dominic urges Benny to help him invest money in a racehorse without Rosalie's consent.