The BEST episodes of The Practice
Every episode of The Practice ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Practice!
The Practice focused on the law firm of Robert Donnell and Associates (later becoming Donnell, Young, Dole, & Frutt, and ultimately Young, Frutt, & Berluti). Plots typically featured the firm's involvement in various high-profile criminal and civil cases that often mirror current events. Conflict between legal ethics and personal morality was a recurring theme. Some episodes contained light comedy. Kelley claimed that he conceived the show as something of a rebuttal to L.A. Law (for which he wrote) and its romanticized treatment of the American legal system and legal proceedings.
#1 - The Verdict
Season 6 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/19/2002
Lindsay stands trial for shooting Lawrence O'Malley, who became obsessed with her after her firm defended him in his murder trial.
#2 - Honor Code
Season 6 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/18/2001
Bobby, Eugene and Jimmy work with an insurance company to settle the claim of a 10-year-old accident victim. But when the case presents a dilemma of moral and ethical proportions, the tension that's been brewing between Jimmy and Eugene finally boils over.
#3 - Liberty Bells (2)
Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/7/2000
Ellenor continues the Donovan case, following up on the various leads to exonerate her client.
#4 - The Thin Line
Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/4/2001
Tensions at the firm are at an all-time high when Bobby is tried for the murder of William Hinks. Bobby is acquitted, though there is little to celebrate when a mysterious cassette recorder is sent to the office. Lucy and Rebecca hear Hinks' voice on the recorder, just before it triggers an explosion.
#5 - Suffer The Little Children
Season 6 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/25/2001
After promising the mother of a murdered teen that he'll find the drive-by shooter responsible, A.D.A. Lowe adopts a ""whatever it takes"" attitude towards the prosecution of the young gang member he thinks did it — who is defended by Ellenor. Meanwhile, Lindsay is moved to help a mentally retarded man find the daughter he lost touch with years ago as a result of being wrongfully incarcerated for over a decade.
#6 - Pro Se
Season 6 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/10/2002
Ellenor is ordered to appear as co-counsel for murderer Ray McMurphy, who insists on defending himself in his latest trial. The trial turns ugly for everyone involved, as McMurphy will do whatever it takes to keep himself from going back to prison. Meanwhile, the firm try to support Bobby as he comes out of hospital and he tries to come to terms with being victimised.
#7 - Life Sentence
Season 4 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/21/2000
Ellenor defends a deaf woman who shot and killed the man who allegedly murdered her young daughter. The client's crime is captured on video in front of dozens of witnesses, leaving no doubt as to who committed the act. The only to way to exonerate the client is to manipulate the jury's heartstrings. Meanwhile Lindsay learns that Bobby hates weddings and decides to spring a surprise elopement.
#8 - End Games
Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/28/1999
The office is thrown into turmoil when Ellenor's client Leonard Sowers rushes through the door with policemen giving chase and throws a bag of heroin onto her desk. Ellenor is arrested for possession of the heroin. A proximity search of her desk turns up a bloodied knife which turns out to be the weapon used to murder Susan Robins. The firm is dealt a surprise when Dickie Flood charges Ellenor with first degree murder. Lindsay & Ellenor bury the hatchet when Lindsay takes over her defense. The police, hoping to make another case for the murder, arrest George Vogelman for concealing a murder weapon and perjury. Meanwhile, Bobby defends Judge Kittleson when she's sued by a former clerk claiming sexual harassment. Jimmy is mesmerized by Judge Kittleson's frank sexual discussion.
#9 - An Early Frost
Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/7/2001
After Scott Wallace kills his friend, Jimmy becomes a witness for the prosecution. Bobby, meanwhile, is still defending Wallace. Lindsay is convinced that serial killer William Hinks has claimed another victim, and fears for her own life. To protect her, Bobby takes matters into his own hands
#10 - The Case of Harland Bassett
Season 5 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/29/2001
Eugene and Jimmy agree to help the mistake-prone Harland Bassett (Ernie Sabella) in the case of a young girl who developed liver damage from an antibiotic. With the odds stacked against them, the trio take on a politically-tied, deep-pocketed drug manufacturer.
#11 - Poor Richard's Almanac
Season 5 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/6/2001
Richard Bay prosecutes a murderer being defended by Bobby. The killer warns Richard that if that jury returns with a guilty verdict, Richard should fear for his life.
#12 - Loser's Keepers
Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/10/1999
Tensions flare when the 'male nun' starts infiltrating the office. Ellenor buys a gun for protection. Rebecca suspects that a wealthy man has bought a client's guilty plea.
#13 - Capitol Crimes
Season 7 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/31/2003
The death penalty comes under scrutiny in a controversial hearing centering on a troubled teen and admitted killer, whose case parallels Bobby's reinvolvement with a former lover.
#14 - Cloudy with a Chance of Membranes (2)
Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/16/1998
The saga of Dr. Jeffery Winslow continues. Bobby uses every trick in the book to keep Dr. Winslow out of jail.
#15 - Payback
Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/14/2001
Bobby is arrested for conspiring to murder serial killer William Hinks. The entire firm, with Eugene at the helm, must now rally to defend him. Meanwhile, Rebecca discovers foul play in the wrongful death suit of a friend's husband.
#16 - Police State
Season 8 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/11/2004
When the police torture a man they believe shot one of their own, Eugene, barely able to contain his emotion, takes the lead in seeking justice.
#17 - Eyewitness
Season 6 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/6/2002
A Reverend shares a secret with Jimmy and Lindsay that could drastically affect the ruling on their client, accused of murder, but only if he's willing to testify; and Ellenor's A.D.A. friend makes her an offer she must refuse, despite the consequences.
#18 - Mr. Hinks Goes to Town
Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/26/2000
Lindsay defends a psychiatric patient who claims to be a serial killer. His psychiatrist claims he's only a disturbed individual looking for a little notoriety.
#19 - Inter Arma Silent Leges
Season 6 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/9/2001
Rebecca faces what could be the greatest challenge of her career when she attempts to uncover why her doctor's husband, an Arab, was detained by federal agents without any explanation. After encountering a series of impenetrable legal roadblocks, she learns a difficult truth: ""Inter arma silent leges … in war law is silent."" Meanwhile, Eugene's court-appointed client forces him to use the race card.
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#21 - The Day After (1)
Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/11/2001
Unconscious and in critical need of blood, Rebecca's fate is left to a higher power when her mother refuses to allow a transfusion because of the family's religious beliefs. Bobby is awestruck when Lindsay gives birth to their son a month early. This is part 1 of a 2 part episode. Part 2 aired as a crossover event on Boston Public - S01E13 - Chapter Thirteen (2).
#22 - Part IV
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/25/1997
A nervous Lindsay prepares for her first appearance before a jury in a wrongful death case against a tobacco company. Elsewhere, Bobby is stunned by the unexpected results of the Ronald Martin murder trial, involving a grieving father, the man's rabbi and the defendant.
#23 - Evil-Doers
Season 6 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/12/2002
An accused rapist and his identical twin muddy a trial; the Hannibal Lecter copycat continues to terrify Lindsay during a commitment hearing.
#24 - Settling
Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/12/2000
Bobby is kidnapped by an irate former client who claims Bobby's incompetence in a manslaughter trial forced him to spend 12 years in prison.
#25 - Day in Court
Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/12/1999
Tempers flare over a particularly tough case. Bobby defends old cling/drug dealer Eddie against the murder of an addict. Eddie claims it is self-defense. D.A. Helen brings the coroner to testify that it wasn't. The coroner's testimony is damaged by prior odd behavior. Eddie attacks Helen to try to force the judge into a mistrial. Bobby & Swackheim nearly come to blows. Each of the participants, Bobby, Helen & Swackheim, express their outrage with the legal system.