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.

Abby is co-counsel with a very pregnant Kelsey who are defending a doctor accused of malpractice by a woman which resulted in the death of her newborn baby. Meanwhile, Becker and Dave Meyer are both sued over their divorce video by a woman who claimed the result made her broke and Becker feels betrayed when he's left to fend for himself when the other partners want nothing to do with the suit. Brackman asks Rollins and Diana to help him peruse a case against a cereal company who botched a cash give-away contest. Also, Victor and Allison have dinner with Rosalind Shays where she charms Victor, but not a suspicious Allison who confides in Victor that she doesn't trust Rosalind.

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.

Kuzak questions the methods of a charismatic British barrister, named Nigel Morris, during his case of representing an American candy maker suing a British candy maker. Meanwhile, a friend places Diana and Rollins in a very difficult position in a hit-and-run traffic case where the victim's body cannot be found. Becker longs for his friends to wish him well on his elevation to full partner. Rosalind continues her plan to take over the firm when she uses Abby by making her look bad to a new client in order to land the client herself. Kelsey returns to the firm after her maternity leave takes an instant dislike to Rosalind after meeting her for the first time, despite Rosalind's friendly attitude. But Kelsey cannot convince anyone, including Markowitz, that Rosalind is not who she says she is, which heats up after Kelsey finds Rosalind using her office during her absence from the firm.

Kuzak represents a gay former policeman suing a journalist who "outed" his homosexuality without permission. After Rosalind resigns from the firm, McKenzie seeks another star litigator and hires Grace Van Owen who resigns her judgeship. Meanwhile, Benny becomes jealous when Alice kisses another man and breaks off their engagement. Becker proposes to Corrinne, but ends up having a one-night-stand with his temporary secretary, Gwen Taylor.

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.

Rosalind Shays returns with an equally ruthless and manipulative lawyer, Jack Sollers, to sue the firm for sexual discrimination. Markowitz suffers a heart attack during the trial and is put on leave. Meanwhile, Kuzak faces Darron Holloway, an angry, civil-rights black activist inciting the press and the public while he takes the case of defending Brian Chisolm, a white policeman accused of shooting a black youth. Also, Roxanne has more problems with her father, Murray, when she tells him that he has Alzheimer's Disease.

Abby takes on the sad case of a couple trying to return their violent and mentally unstable adopted, seven-year-old son to the orphanage. Meanwhile, Gwen Taylor, Becker's former temp and final fling before his marriage to Corrinne, comes back to work at the firm full-time as Markowitz's secretary and Becker tries to keep distant to her at any cost. While Kuzak and Rollins debate on their handling of the Chisolm case, Grace asks the no-nonsense Judge Richard Armand to take over as judge for the case, while Holloway finds a witness for the prosecution.

Grace fights the overseas shipment of a donated kidney destined for a wealthy patient to help out a close friend. When she fails, Mullaney approaches Grace and hires a kidney broker in order to get a kidney for her friend. Meanwhile, Kuzak represents an angry, left-wing Vietnam veteran suing a patriotic son of a KIA Vietnam vet who assaulted him for burning an American flag at a Veterans Day demonstration. Murray and Benny pose a lawyers to get dates from a taxi-dance club they are now going to, and they later end up in jail for getting into a barroom brawl. Also, C.J. takes a humorous case of representing several overweight men injured in a bus accident who are suing the bus company involved.

Murray suddenly dies from a stroke before the Christmas holiday, devastating everyone including Benny and Roxanne. Meanwhile, a smitten McKenzie willingly volunteers himself and a reluctant Grace to defend Rosalind against savings & loan charges, despite everyone's protest. Victor is representing a hospital chief of staff being sued by Paul Kohler, a bitter doctor who claims he was fired because of his physical disfigurement. Brackman and Rollins try to use hypnosis to control Noah Cowen, the businessman with Tourette's Syndrome, in preparation for a financial deal meeting. C.J. arranges the office Christmas party with Grace as Santa, and Kelsey tells Markowitz that she is thinking of a divorce.

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 takes temporary charge of the firm after McKenzie passes it to him. Meanwhile, Grace appears before an unsympathetic military tribunal to defend a soldier who refused to shoot at civilians during the December 1989 Invasion of Panama. Corrinne throws Becker out of her house after learning of his infidelities from Roxanne, and Becker retaliates by firing her. Also, C.J. represents a couple and the owners of a reputed haunted house who are suing the real estate broker for selling it to them.

Kuzak has his hands full in defending a murder suspect with multiple personalities who is being prosecuted by Zoey Clemmons, Mullaney's young ex-wife. Meanwhile, McKenzie seeks help from Rosalind in keeping a major client with saving his company from a hostile takeover. Mullaney represents Becker in his divorce with Corrinne, with Roxanne subpoenaed who reveals everything about Becker's flings with other women, including Gwen. Brackman makes Roxanne the new office administrator. After C.J. defends Abby's recent legal actions to Brackman, they go out to dinner where afterwords, Abby becomes sexually confused after she and C.J. share a romantic kiss.