Foster Troutman, a charming polygamist, causes an uproar at the firm over Becker and Markowitz's tax audit case of him and his 11 wives, and he offers Markowtiz a new sexual maneuver on pleasing a woman while Becker is attracted to his lawyer, Lynette Pierce. Meanwhile, Grace faces the difficult task of prosecuting Christopher Appleton, a gay man afflicted with AIDS, who's accused of the mercy killing his similarly infected lover. Abby faces an agonizing ordeal with Kelsey in search for her son when she receives news of an battered anonymous child's death. The other partners quarrel over who will get Chaney's desirable office, and with a coin toss, Markowitz wins.

Kuzak stands firm against capital punishment for a convicted rapist/murderer, despite persuasive arguments that his client will kill again if released pending a new trial. Meanwhile, Becker becomes caught in the middle of his parents divorce action when both his mother and father ask him to represent them against the other and Roxanne eventually rescues him from the mess of this situation. McKenzie indirectly forces Victor to withdraw from an unpopular case in which Victor threatens to quit. Grace hands Mark Gilliam, Appleton's lawyer, new defense grounds for a new trial in the AIDS mercy-killing case. Also, Abby brings a stray dog to work which causes nothing but problems, and Brackman eventually adopts it.

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.

Kelsey faces disbarment for revealing knowledge of her former client Suzanne Hamil's murder obtained through attorney-client privilege. Victor, now an independent lawyer, is representing his old friend Mark Gilliam, an AIDS-stricken lawyer, suing an insurer for not providing coverage for his medical needs, while he and Grace finally marry. Meanwhile, Becker tells Roxanne that he has feelings for her and they end up falling through the ceiling while engaged in a little romp. Abby is finally made a partner, and McKenzie inherits Rosalind Shays' estate.