Once-successful patent attorney Harriet Korn is fired and decides to begin anew with her own practice. With the help of her happy-go-lucky assistant, Jenna, she sets up shop in an abandoned shoe store in a rough section of Cincinnati. Her first case is to defend Malcolm Davies, a troubled young man, facing his third drug offense. Meanwhile, up-and-coming attorney Adam Branch joins the firm, and defends a "private security officer" after he shoots a man who is attempting to rob a laundromat.
Harry defends an impoverished 87-year-old woman who commits armed robbery to buy food. Meanwhile, in an attempt to impress a beautiful woman, Adam takes on an unlikely case in which he must argue in favor of a laundromat owner's strict "one-child only" policy for his employees, but is shaken when opposing counsel is none other than flamboyant media hog Tommy Jefferson.
After getting a tip from a priest, Harry helps defend Jeffrey Rollins, an inmate serving life for a murder he did not commit. Meanwhile, legal woes continue to worsen for the laundromat after Adam risks disbarment by going behind Tommy’s back to offer the fired employee her job back. Elsewhere, Malcolm and Tommy form an unlikely partnership when they team up to help an overweight woman sue multiple fast food giants.
Harry grows increasingly concerned about Malcolm’s association with the over-the-top Tommy and their lawsuit. Meanwhile, Tommy struggles to be less ridiculous as he, his associate, and Malcolm argue in court against large fast-food corporations. In a shocking turn of events, Chunhua is attacked behind the laundromat. When her assailant is set free after cutting a deal, Damien risks serious jail time by taking justice into his own hands, while Adam finds comfort in his ex-girlfriend, Rachel.
When Harry discovers her client is guilty, she proclaims his guilt in front of the jury when she is not allowed to quit the case. The judge has no choice but to find Harry in contempt and recommend her for permanent disbarment. Meanwhile, Malcolm goes undercover with Cincinnati’s finest in exchange for an expunged criminal record.
Malcolm and Harry try to mediate a gang war; a man claims he was let go from his job for being too old.
Tommy convinces Harry to help him defend four albinos seeking asylum in the U.S. from the dangers of albino hunters in their native Tanzania. Elsewhere, Jenna's car is stolen, but is later returned by the thief's sister in hopes that the firm will represent him on an unrelated theft charge. Back in the office, Jenna and Harry's relationship gets rocky when Harry makes a hurtful comment.
A teenager tends to the victim of a drive-by shooting but finds himself in hot water when the Assistant DA believes he was involved in a cop's death; Harry fights to get a liver transplant for the shooting victim.
When a man locks his wife in the basement to keep her from cheating, her lover approaches Harry for help; Adam takes on his first divorce case; Jenna and Malcolm talk about the kiss.
Harry co-chairs an armed robbery case with an old flame. Meanwhile, the firm defends a drag queen who was fired after her affair with her boss is revealed.
Harry defends an old colleague after a stand-off goes awry. Meanwhile, Adam professes his love for Rachel and tries to break up with Chunhua, and Jenna and Malcolm try to define their relationship.
Harry assists Josh after he suffers a nervous breakdown. Meanwhile, Adam and Rachel defend a death-row inmate, and Jenna and Malcolm have an argument.
