When her partner is hospitalized after a breakdown in court, criminal defense attorney Kathleen Maguire's already bulging caseload doubles. Will Froman, a P.D. who's eager to go into private practice, convinces her to take him on as a partner to save the firm.

Kathleen's pursuit of the man stalking her results in a fender-bender, a new and unsavory client for Will, and an unpleasant confrontation in the D.A.'s office. A woman seeks Kathleen's help in obtaining protection from her abusive husband, and another client tries to negotiate a plea by offering up the name of the Red Door murderer.

A drunken bar brawl brings Kathleen's father into court on assault charges, creating the opportunity for her to show Patrick where fighting at school could lead him. Will has a creative proposal to keep a stripper out of jail, and Kathleen presents an enlightening argument while defending a magician charged with drunken driving.

With Patrick's unwitting aid, Dan foils Kathleen's attempt at a voluntary surrender for Hank Tyler, a client released in a jailhouse mixup. To curry favor with Dan, Lisa decides to take a hard line on prosecuting Tyler -- that is, until Will charms her into changing her mind.

Kathleen represents a client with poor impulse control, is forced to exchange favors with Judge Hawes to get another client released in time for his mother's funeral, and has a nice moment with her mother. Will's tactics in defending another attorney on assault charges are irritating, but effective; he and Lisa go their separate ways.