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.

April 29, 1992. On the first day of the major L.A. riots, Becker stretches his practice and defends a theme-park employee fired for inappropriate behavior while in costume. Meanwhile, Rollins continues his leave of absence to be elected for City Counsel and canvass the riot torn South-Central district. Mullaney brings Zoey home to his house from the hospital to recover after the shooting. Becker's former secretary, Gwen Taylor, begins her law internship. With the departure of Grace Van Owen, C.J. Lamb, Alex DePalma, Frank Kittredge, and Susan Bloom, the firm hires Daniel Morales, a widower from Santa Barbara, as a partner, and he brings his infant daughter Lucy to work on his very first day. Brackman and Markowitz are caught in the riots when Brackman is falsely arrested for looting while on his way to the wedding chapel, and Markowitz is badly beaten by a mob.

October 29, 1992. Six months after the trauma of the L.A. riots, McKenzie finds himself haunted by a murder case he prosecuted in 1959 of Frank Osgood, and that Morales has reopened the case after another man has confessed to the crime. Meanwhile, Markowitz returns home from the hospital shaky and frightened after his head injuries. Brackman find himself in legal trouble as he tries to fight the new fledgling D.A., the self-assured Dana Romney who's prosecuting him for resisting arrest. An all-new Becker returns from a six-month trip around the globe. Mullaney interviews with the D.A.'s office for a job to relish his renewed relationship with Zoey. Also, Rollins contemplates an caressive new campaign strategy after losing a key endorsement, but may regret it.

Due to the stress of her return to work, Zoey opts to be out of the D.A.'s office and decides to leave L.A., and Mullaney. Meanwhile, Rollins' campaign sinks lower and lower as the election draws near. Becker looks inward to his future, but Roxanne sees just the same old Becker. In jail, Brackman learns about his new life from behind the bars. Markowitz is slow to heal and frustrations set in for him and Kelsey. Mullaney becomes aroused in his first case for the D.A.'s office in prosecuting a man in a child-abuse case, who is being defended by a nun lawyer.

Brackman's first day back at the firm begins badly when Markowitz also returns prematurely and takes off on an irresponsible spree with Benny. Meanwhile, Gwen takes the reins in a divorce case where the husband is determined to blackmail his wife into relinquishing her claims to his real estate business. Becker represents a wine maker in a court case over the property of the family winery. Roxanne, frazzled and overworked, yearns for something more in her life: a baby. Rollins comes back to work at the firm after losing the election and tries to apologize to an angry Kelsey while facing a cold reception from most of the office due to the tabloids publishing his racist views which he made during the election campaign.

Becker meets with Ben Flicker, a movie studio mogul, when he handles a family divorce involving his daughter. Markowitz recoils in fear when he is asked to identify his attackers from that day. Meanwhile, Brackman begins writing his memoirs about being in jail, but he has some trouble concentrating. Roxanne approaches Mullaney about her dream of having a baby with him after stepping down as office manager. Gwen receives an anonymous gift and assumes it's from Morales. Rollins tries to find a home for Markowitz's stray dog that he found. Also, McKenzie becomes involved in another rare court case in representing a deaf woman being sued by the California State Coalition for the Deaf for her hiring practices.

Kelsey fights for a man's right to choose not to procreate with an injection to stop his ex-wife from using their frozen embryos. Meanwhile, Gwen begins her first unsupervised litigation case, bothered by the feeling that she's being watched. Roxanne and Mullaney make a decision about conception. An immature Markowitz shares his deadly secret with Benny when he shows him the big gun he now keeps on him. Also, Rollins tries to get his damage deposit back for the South-Central apartment he rented during the campaign, but never used.

Melina Paros, the Greek-born City Attorney, joins the firm as an associate. But she has one last case to finish which involves the prosecution of an accused abusive mother against her newborn baby. The unbalanced Markowitz loses control of reality completely when he pulls his gun on a dog pound owner while trying to help Benny find his runaway dog Lincoln. Meanwhile, Becker gets more deeply involved in the intrigue for control of World Wide Studios which involves Flicker and his mysterious silent partner, Eric Schuller, who's crippled wife Beatrice Schuller is the apparent heir to the studio. Brackman loses his pocket watch and acquires an unlikely writing partner when one of the convicts he met in jail turns up. Gwen receives more of the mysterious gifts and suspects Morales is behind it since all of the gifts are from children's nursery books that he keeps for his infant daughter. Also, Mullaney sees Roxanne in a new light.

Melina Paros receives an anonymous helping hand which is a videotape in her child-abuse case for the Attorney-General's office. Meanwhile, Markowitz finds some understanding during his stay in the psycho ward at the hospital and learns that his mental problems are purely physical in nature. Roxanne surprises a moody Mullaney with the news that she is pregnant. The dog Lincoln finally finds the missing pocket watch with a chain and give it to Brackman. Becker is kidnapped at knife point during his search to find Eric Schuller for Mr. Flicker. Also, Gwen finds out that Morales was not responsible for the nasty gifts and clears the air with him, but the unseen stalker continues to watch Gwen.

Mullaney fights against the state mental hospital to prevent the release of a couple's daughter's convicted killer David Orcott (their son-in-law) from the hospital where he was committed. Meanwhile, Brackman can't resist a nasal aphrodisiac in his attempt to revive his sex life with Sheila. Flicker continues to annoy and tempt Becker, and then after much forceful reasoning, he finally allows Arnie to meet with Eric Schuller, who is revealed to be long dead. Also, Morales represents a man suing the hog-finishing plant over the foul odor contaminating his nearby home.

Morales and Becker are defending a sexual-bondage dominatrix who is being charged for the murder of Eric Schuller and the revelations of Schuller's connections with the prostitution world shake World Wide studios. Meanwhile, Rollins finds himself in the uncomfortable position of defending a sculptor who's right to freedom of expression and his racist work which has caused civil unrest. Brackman and his jailbird ghostwriter disagree over his "autobiography." Also, Gwen's medical history becomes an issue with the firm's insurance carrier, while the unseen stalker continues to spy on her.

Gwen's stalker, a darkly sinister woman who claims to be Alison Morales, Daniel's recently diseased wife, continues to plague Gwen and plays a particularly cruel trick on her by tampering with her medical records. Meanwhile, Markowitz takes the stand for the first time at the pretrial preliminary against his two alleged assailants. Brackman represents a man running an adult strip club downstairs in their building and the city attorney involved is the annoying and obnoxious Dana Romney. Becker believes his show business career is over as Schuller's will is read, but he gets the opposite result when Beatrice Schuller acquires the throne, dismisses Flicker and hires Becker as the studio director. Also, Rollins confides in Paros about his behavior during the Ajamian riot.

Rollins represents a man who is fighting to keep his pregnant girlfriend, put in a coma after a car accident, on life-support so their unborn child can be brought to full-term. Meanwhile, Morales finds himself inadvertently holding a piece of evidence in a murder case. Gwen's stalker continues lurking in the hallways and stairwells of the firm and takes advantage of Morales' legal trouble to kidnap his infant daughter Lucy. Mullaney's frail, estranged, alcoholic father pays an unexpected and unwelcome visit to him and Roxanne to reveal startling news about himself. Also, Markowitz's assault case is settled after he has an attack of conscience and lets his two attackers get off lightly, but Kelsey is not satisfied.

Paros represents a widow suing a newsman for allowing her husband to kill himself as the cameras rolled. Meanwhile, Mullaney maintains a hospital bedside vigil for his dying father. Morales contacts the police to help find baby Lucy and protect Gwen from the woman still calling herself Alison Morales after she waylays and wounds Gwen. Also, Dana Romney appears before Kelsey who is now suing the city for negligence in matter of the beating of Markowitz.

McKenzie and Morales pursues a witness Peter Manzo who could clear Frank Osgood whom McKenzie convicted in 1959. Meanwhile, Paros crosses a long-term family friend she is defending in a murder-for-hire case. Kelsey is representing a professor who is clashing with her colleague over the proper authority of a book on Shakespeare. Mullaney finally comes to his senses and returns to Roxanne. After Gwen's stalker, Linda Salerno, murders a police detective, Gwen finds that the 24-hour police surveillance is hard to endure.

With all the weirdness that has been going on for the past few months, McKenzie gives everyone an ultimatum: cease all outside projects, buckle down and get back to work or get out. Afterward, Becker takes a divorce case of representing a boxer's spirited wife. Meanwhile, Kelsey revels in a lawsuit to help the mentally ill brought by a shady man named, Gerard Samuels, who claims to have connections with the Clinton administration. Also, Morales defends Thomas Quinn, a man who murdered his daughter's recently paroled rapist.

Celeste Bauman, a temperamental businesswoman, causes Markowitz no end of problems when she takes exception to the attitude of an IRS auditor. Meanwhile, Rollins defends a gay art theft who claims that the arresting policeman entrapped him by becoming his lover. Also, Mullaney's prosecution of a juvenile offender charged with the shooting death of another youth raises his doubts about his own ability to be a parent to Roxanne's baby.

Two quarreling siblings get a big surprise when they ask McKenzie to evaluate their late father's stamp collection, and they find a secret collection of pornography with it. Meanwhile, Paros represents Brian McAlister, a US postal worker who holds his employer responsible for the death of his wife at the hands of a disgruntled sorter. Also, Brackman, Becker and others wonder if Benny's new gambling friend, Dominic Nuzzi, is such a good influence on him.

Becker represents Mitchell Schein, a greedy man who holds out for material concessions before agreeing to grant his wife a divorce following Jewish law. Meanwhile, Kelsey is representing Aaron Voss, a stiff, no-nonsense meteorologist suing the TV station manager who replaced him with a stand-up comic to boost its ratings. Also, Morales represents a Latino construction worker who claims he was stiffed by a wealthy couple looking to save a few dollars.

Paros represents the descendants of a slave seeking the return of their ancestor's paintings from the collection of the original slave owner's descendants. Meanwhile, Markowitz is representing a Indian restaurant owner being sued by an obnoxious couple after a temperamental waiter spilled food on them. Also, Dominic introduces Benny to Rosalie Hendrickson, another retarded woman, who later tells Benny about a friend who raped her in the past in which Benny persuades her to press charges against her so-called assailant.

Kelsey represents a former elementary school teacher seeking to get his job back after being cleared of sexual molestation charges. Meanwhile, Rollins is representing a baseball player being sued for assault by a relentlessly critical, heckling fan. After breaking up with Morales, Gwen feels the stress of studying for her bar exam and accepts help from her attractive tutor.

Becker represents Mason Paine, an aging country music singer who tries to fight a divorce action brought by his rising star wife. Meanwhile, Gwen gives her law tutor a second chance not to come on to her, and regrets it when he turns out to be a Lothario who will not take 'no' for an answer. Mullaney tries to convince Rosalie and her overprotective mother not to back out in testifying against Rosalie's rapist. Also, Paros defends Christine Rowan, a teenage prostitute for robbery while dealing with the biased judge in her case who sees the case that parallels his own daughter.

Roxanne helps out her ex-husband, Dave Meyer, with financial backing and a celebrity, Buddy Hackett, for his new "Fetal Phone," product he's mailing out for a spot on a shopping channel. Meanwhile, Mullaney begins his case in prosecuting Rosalie's attacker where she nervously takes the stand to testify against him. Gwen plays hardball with her bar exam tutor when she hires Kelsey in a sexual harassment suit.

Five months later. Things have changed for the firm which is now named McKenzie, Brackman, Kelsey, Markowitz, and Morales, as the partners begin to interview candidates for a new associate at the firm which is under a massive interior renovation. Meanwhile, Stuart Markowitz's cousin, Eli Levinson, arrives in town from New York to defend Sandy Morris, the mentally ill son of some old friends who's accused of murdering a social worker. Eli's former secretary, Denise Iannello, arrives in Los Angeles to re-start her life and asks Eli to give her a job as his secretary again. Kelsey represents another attorney suing her own firm for sexual discrimination. Also, Becker finds the new associate candidate, Jane Halliday, a Christian fundamentalist, irresistible, while Kelsey is wary about Halliday's presence.

New associate Jane Halliday represents a Gulf War veteran in declining health, who charges a VA doctor with negligence in treating his baffling illness. Meanwhile, Rollins is representing a TV shopping network executive being sued by a man for enticing his "shopaholic" wife to spend beyond her means. Eli enters a plea of not guilty for Sandy and hires an attractive private investigator, Jinx, to look into the murder victim's husband a potential suspect while Sandy's parents, Ed and Rae, quarrel with Eli and each other over what's best for Sandy.

The Sandy Morris murder trial begins where Eli acts on his suspicions and calls the murder victim's husband, Jonah, to the stand. Meanwhile, Becker longs to buy a classic $275,000 Bentley Convertible, a dream that could come true pending the outcome of a messy divorce case involving his latest client, Jessie Wilks, and her wealthy CEO husband. Also, Morales' artistic eye puts him in charge of the office renovation and meets with the renovator, Lauren Chase, to discus the costs.

McKenzie offers Eli a partnership in the firm and proposes him for membership in his restricted, all-WASP mens club. Meanwhile, Becker is representing an obnoxious couple suing their travel agent, Marty Schiff, for a disastrous vacation that ended up in Azerbaijan. Mullaney is prosecuting Ronald Chow, a Chinese financier when an illegal immigrant died while in his custody. Also, Morales manages to agree with Lauren Chase on the right budget restrictions and starts a romance with her.

Markowitz is approached by Barry Glassman, an old friend who reveals that he's a fugitive named Jay Ellison wanted for attempting to help a Black Panther member escape from prison in 1968 and asks him to help arrange his surrender. Meanwhile, Morales is representing a pot-smoking couple suing the school system for encouraging their daughter to turn them into the police. A casting agent raises Denise's expectations about an acting career. Also, Benny develops a crush on Denise and begins to ignore Rosalie who wants to move in with him.

Becker urges that the firm employ a security consultant in constructing a "safe room" for the employees, then falls prey to the innovation when he and Denise get locked in it after hours. Meanwhile, Kelsey and Halliday square off against each other while they are representing Karl Bullon, a self-righteous department store employer being sued by an ex-employee for eavesdropping on her who was having an extra-marital affair with a co-worker, where Halliday learns a courtroom lesson while cross-examining a witness. Also, Rollins decides to represent Glassman and seeks out a former Black Panther member as a witness for his and Markowitz's case.

Becker gets into a minor car accident when a illegal Chinese truck driver accidentally crashes into his Bentley which prompts a spate of anti-Asian sentiments, which in turn inspires the minority members of the firm who include Morales and Rollins. Meanwhile, the Glassman case reaches its conclusion as Rollins and Markowitz try to turn the jury against the U.S. government. Eli handles the divorce of the wife of a marriage counseling guru reluctant to give up on the marriage or his wife's money. Also, Jinx helps Eli with his case while showing him the wonders of Los Angeles.

Eli, on a caffeine high diet while studying for his California bar exam, tries to juggle the attentions of Jinx and his New York girlfriend, Audrey (from the series 'Civil Wars'), who shows up for a surprise visit. Meanwhile, McKenzie handles the case of Arthur Emmrich, a vocal teacher being sued by a very vocal and very dissatisfied student. Also, Mullaney prosecutes Rick Turner, a wealthy man accused of raping a prostitute he saw on a daily basis, while Mullaney is drawn to the superior court judge, Carolyn Walker.

Eli is representing Nat Pinkus, an aging comic whose son is trying to have him declared incompetent to take possession of his estate. Meanwhile, Brackman handles a small poetry society suing over the use of their mailing list by a much larger direct-mail organization. Mullaney is surprised when Roxanne and Dave Meyer walk into his office and ask him to give up any custody rights to their baby daughter. Denise takes offense at Halliday's questions about her religious convictions, and McKenzie plays Santa at the annual office Christmas party.

Morales agrees to defend a young man who wants to confess to a convenience store robbery, but who may not be guilty. Meanwhile, Kelsey takes a civil case of defending a man accused of sexual fraud because he implied to a woman that he was an undercover cop. Mullaney and Judge Walker face a defense attorney demanding a mistrial in the Turner case because of their developing relationship. Also, Becker ends up getting duped by a phony come-on by Halliday after he tells her of his divine sight to see the truth.

Markowitz represents Alfred Uhler, a veteran juggler suing his protégé, Ross Petit, for appropriating his routines and cutting him out of the act. When both sides are unwilling to back down, the lawyers come to a well known, retired juggler, named Roscoe Zambini, to determine the case for them. Meanwhile, Halliday represents ballerina Erica Hastings, who is seeking to get out of her exclusive contract with a Alex Vedder, an egotistical, stubborn choreographer who won't use her. Also, Benny feels pressured from Dominic and Denise when Rosalie wants more of a commitment from him.

Eli is co-counsel with Defense Attorney Tanya Geiss for one of two men being prosecuted by A.D.A. Tommy Mullaney for manslaughter after resorting to cannibalism during an ill-fated mountain climbing expedition which their partner died. Meanwhile, Becker encourages his client, mathematician Carl Hicks, to resist his wife's divorce demands and to stand up for himself. Denise finds herself caught in the middle of a father and son feud when both vie for her attention which also threatens one of McKenzie's cases.

Kelsey finds herself in an uncomfortable spotlight when she represents an adoptive mother fighting to retain custody of her child from the natural father who has the support of the Birth Parents Network. Meanwhile, Halliday is representing Madeline Churchill, a librarian with delicate sensibilities, suing a hippie librarian for constantly using profanity in front of her on the job and she gets embarrassed by Becker's come-on jokes. After Rollins learns that he is not up for partnership, he presents McKenzie an ultimatum: make him a partner or he will leave.

Benny's wedding plans are thrown into confusion after Rosalie reveals she's already married. So, Becker tries to get the other retarded man, Tim, to sign annulment papers so Benny can go through with it. Meanwhile, Halliday's overzealous preacher father pays an unexpected visit and meddles in her case involving a high school biology teacher who was fired from his job for teaching creationism. Markowitz questions Kelsey over their fading love, and Eli questions his feelings for Denise.

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.

Paros represents a widow suing a newsman for allowing her husband to kill himself as the cameras rolled. Meanwhile, Mullaney maintains a hospital bedside vigil for his dying father. Morales contacts the police to help find baby Lucy and protect Gwen from the woman still calling herself Alison Morales after she waylays and wounds Gwen. Also, Dana Romney appears before Kelsey who is now suing the city for negligence in matter of the beating of Markowitz.

Morales agrees to defend a young man who wants to confess to a convenience store robbery, but who may not be guilty. Meanwhile, Kelsey takes a civil case of defending a man accused of sexual fraud because he implied to a woman that he was an undercover cop. Mullaney and Judge Walker face a defense attorney demanding a mistrial in the Turner case because of their developing relationship. Also, Becker ends up getting duped by a phony come-on by Halliday after he tells her of his divine sight to see the truth.