Prisoner Aaron Wallace becomes a lawyer, litigating cases for other inmates while fighting to overturn his own wrongful conviction.
Tensions rise between Aaron and his crew when he provides counsel to a white supremacist in order to repay his debt to inmate Wild Bill. District Attorney Maskins ups his game when Aaron sues the NYPD in an attempt to gain access to his case file. Meanwhile, his daughter’s boyfriend, Ronnie, braces for confrontation as he visits the prison to meet Aaron for the first time.
Determined to gain access to his police file, Aaron decides to represent an inmate from Safiya’s drug rehabilitation program whose brother is a cop. District Attorney Maskins and Assistant District Attorney O’Reilly close in on proof of Aaron’s malfeasance during Jose Rodriguez’s trial, targeting Marie as a way to get to Aaron.
While litigating on behalf of an inmate locked up on a robbery charge, Aaron is torn between doing what's right and what's best for his case. Heartened by Aaron's new lead, Marie recommits to his case, researching witnesses on Aaron's behalf. Plus, Safiya closes in on Foster's drug smuggling scheme.
Aaron confronts O'Reilly in court, targeting the search warrant used in Aaron's arrest and the DA's failure to disclose a confidential informant. Marie's father comes to town, intent on encouraging her and Darius to solidify their relationship. Maskins arranges for a dangerous inmate, Cassius Dawkins, to be transferred to Bellmore in hopes that he'll cause problems for Safiya and Aaron.
Aaron struggles to balance the demands of his own case with the needs of an inmate who's fighting for the right to marry his dying girlfriend. Safiya defies the prison board, effectively jeopardizing Anya's campaign as well as their marriage.
In order to maintain his lifeline to the outside world, Aaron is forced to defend Cassius Dawkins when he puts three white supremacists in the hospital; Marie struggles with her feelings for Aaron after he signs her divorce papers.
Aaron pushes to represent longtime inmate Easley Barton, hoping that winning this 23-year-old case against Maskins will strengthen his own. Captain Foster continues his drug-smuggling racket as Safiya closes in. Marie struggles with her breakup with Darius as she continues to help Aaron in his case.
Flashing back to the previous nine years of his incarceration, Aaron's journey from terrified novice prisoner to attorney and social crusader unfolds.
Aaron bolsters his case with newfound information from Marie; Cassius suspects Aaron is a snitch and seeks retribution; Foster struggles to lay low during his last two weeks before retirement, but Safiya turns up the heat.
Aaron finally gets his chance to argue for his retrial in court, but it's thwarted by the return of prison warden Cyrus Hunt; Safiya deals with the aftermath of the prison riot and attempts to salvage her reforms.
When Maskins and Cyrus Hunt try to thwart Aaron's attempt at a retrial, Aaron is forced to attempt a desperate move, risking the wrath of a powerful new adversary. The election comes to a head as Safiya tries to warn Aaron that he is now a marked man on the season finale
