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.

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.

Grace returns to day court and has problems keeping the prosecution of a man accused of stealing bull semen on the serious side. Meanwhile, Victor goes beyond professional bounds in urging a troubled family to seek redress for the death of their son in a car accident. Becker insists to Carolyn, his latest client, on aggressively pursing evidence against her husband's marital infidelities despite her objections, and then regrets it when she attempts to shoot her husband in Becker's office. Abby assists with Victor's case while searching for a suitable escort for a family wedding and winds up with an unexpected volunteer: a district attorney named George Handeman, who grilled her during her first court appearance.

A top pharmaceutical company tries to repackage Kuzak after hiring him to win a product-liability case. But he and Victor show them a few things about swaying a jury during a mock trial. Meanwhile, Roxanne asserts herself and demands a pay raise from Becker. Markowitz learns a lot about Kelsey when he handles her massive tax return. Also, Abby takes another court case when she defends Benny Stulwicz, a retarded man against charges of robbery.