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.

Zoey must deal with Judge Adam Biel, her former law school professor, who appears to be losing control of his mental faculties during a trial. Meanwhile, Rollins allows his personal experiences to color his defense of a fearful black man who led the police on a high-speed car chase after seeing a videotape of the police beating of Rodney King. Becker tries to help Benny recover from his mental breakdown. Abby seeks advice on relationships while deciding whether or not to pursue one with the bisexual C.J. Arnie is reluctant to open up to his therapist and eventually sees his self-destructiveness stemming from his own troubled childhood from his parents. McKenzie re-assumes his role as senior partner and firm is formally renamed 'McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney and Becker' to reflect the absence of Michael Kuzak.