The Best Episodes of Boston Legal

The past comes back to haunt Denny when a vengeful man forces the firm to find a different outcome in a decades-old murder trial. Meanwhile, Alan is jailed for contempt of court while defending a prostitute.

Director: Bill D'Elia

Writer: N/A

Financial problems may force Crane Poole & Schmidt to be put up for sale in the series finale, which also finds Alan petitioning the Supreme Court for Denny's access to a non-FDA approved medicine, and Shirley and Carl planning their wedding.

Director: Bill D'Elia

Writer: N/A

A woman asks for Alan's advice on how to kill the man who murdered her daughter but was acquitted by reason of temporary insanity; Katie and Jerry try to overturn a child-molester-registry law to save a falsely accused client; and Lorraine tries to help Alan overcome deep-rooted childhood fears that cause him to speak gibberish whenever she's around.

Director: N/A

Writer: David E. Kelley

It's a lawyer's dream come true for Alan when he presents an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in a case involving a mentally challenged man who was convicted of statutory rape. Meanwhile, Lorraine shares startling news with Katie about Jerry's girlfriend.

Director: N/A

Writer: David E. Kelley

Seniors take on a drug firm in a class-action case handled by the grandstanding Crane. Also: revenge motives are raised in a murder trial; and medical ethics are at issue in a civil suit.

Director: Mike Listo

Writer: N/A

A showcase for the wily, agitating Alan Shore, who badgers a dotty judge; romances Tara, whom he surreptitiously helps in a thorny criminal case; and backs Crane, who's been arrested for solicitation.

Director: Mel Damski

Writer: N/A

Shirley asks Alan Shore to use his odious lawyering to help her defend a police officer accused of torture. Donny Crane returns and is the opposing counsel in Denny's case, with Chelina Hall as second chair, where a woman wants to sue her former boyfriend for saying no to her at the alter. For Denny, this is an easy case, for Donny this is to settle a score with Denny for letting him believe for 25 years that he was his father. Meanwhile, Bernard Ferrion is befriended by Catherine and Alan finds variance with that.

Director: Jeff Bleckner

Writer: David E. Kelley

Denny takes Alan to Nimmo Bay, British Columbia, Canada, to help him get over his breakup with Tara. Catherine confesses to Bernard's murder. Sara and Garrett take extreme measures to help Denise challenge her husband's alimony demands in their divorce proceedings.

Director: Mike Listo

Writer: David E. Kelley

After kidnapping a witness and physically assaulting a priest, Brad is put on trial and enlists the help of Denny and Shirley to bail him out. Meanwhile, Alan's hands are full with his secretary's financial troubles when her credit card company charges ridiculous interest rates putting her $50,000 in debt.

Director: Mike Listo

Writer: David E. Kelley, Lawrence Broch

A shocking allegation of Oedipal proportions in the Scott Little case threatens to torpedo Coho's defense; Alan seeks outside help to breathe some life into his relationship with Sally.

Director: Jeff Bleckner

Writer: David E. Kelley

Lincoln's obsession with Shirley takes a dangerous turn; Jerry and Alan's collaboration in a murder trial leads to a scotch-and-cigar session, which makes Denny jealous.

Director: Bill D'Elia

Writer: David E. Kelley

Alan fields a difficult request from Shirley after her father suffers an injury while in the late stages of his battle with Alzheimer's; Carl represents a group of Nantucket residents who are concerned about homeland security; Jerry's new girlfriend sues him for sexual assault.

Director: Arlene Sanford

Writer: David E. Kelley

Financial problems may force Crane, Poole & Schmidt to be put up for sale. Meanwhile, Alan petitions the Supreme Court for Denny's access to a non-FDA approved medicine; and Shirley and Carl plan their wedding.

Director: Bill D'Elia

Writer: N/A

The Kelly Nolan trial continues, but Alan, Denny and Brad run fear the worst when Kelly's cold demeanor begins to turn off the jury. Meanwhile, Garrett and Sara are enlisted to help Denise in her divorce settlement and Malcolm convinces Tara to represent Johnny Damon, Edwin Starr's nephew, whose performance of War strikes a nerve at a nightclub.

Director: Arlene Sanford

Writer: David E. Kelley

When the FBI's hands are tied with red tape, Brad helps Denise go undercover as a rogue agent in order to find a missing boy who is close to her heart. But when legal and ethical roadblocks appear, they must make some difficult decisions. Meanwhile, Denny's nonchalance regarding the use of firearms becomes a real concern for the other senior partners when he shoots a homeless man in the head with a paintball gun.

Director: Mel Damski

Writer: N/A

While in LA, Alan takes on the case of TV star Courtney Rae, who is arrested after shooting a photographer who she mistakes for a stalker. But Denny and Barry make life difficult when they won't stop making sexual advances toward their client. Meanwhile, Denise resorts to underhanded tactics to eliminate Marlene from the picture, but the plan backfires when she is caught by Paul. And Brad enlists Shirley's help in trying to persuade the judge in his niece's trial to lower the sentence.

Director: Bill D'Elia

Writer: Michael Reisz, Lawrence Broch

Crane Poole & Schmidt's new lawyer makes his mark while defending a man charged with killing a judge. Meanwhile, Denny's Internet romance creates trouble at the firm, and Alan helps a cross-dresser who's out of a job.

Director: Bill D'Elia

Writer: David E. Kelley

The media spotlight intensifies as Coho's high-profile murder case goes to trial; Alan finds himself defending Jerry Espenson--again--but also sees another familiar face in court; and Denny's feelings for Bethany grow.

Director: Lou Antonio

Writer: David E. Kelley

Alan and Denny defend brothers charged with murdering their father; and Jerry and Clarence represent a woman with enormous gambling debts who blames her misfortune on a casino.

Director: Bill D'Elia

Writer: David E. Kelley

After an old girlfriend hires Alan to help her husband beat a murder charge, he faces a moral and professional dilemma when his lingering feelings for her elicit a secret desire for a conviction.

Director: Steve Robin

Writer: David E. Kelley

Shirley's quiet Thanksgiving with Carl becomes considerably louder when she opens her door to other members of the firm, including Alan, Denny, Jerry, Katie and emotionally unstable partner Edwin Poole, who brings his 6-year-old foster son.

Director: Mike Listo

Writer: David E. Kelley

When Denny shoots his therapist in self-defense, the senior partners, fed up with his rogue behavior, begin to enact plans to remove him from the firm. Meanwhile, Alan enlists the help of Chelina in a racially-charged case involving a black man being arrested for being in a white neighborhood, and Brad asks Denise to teach him to be a better kisser.

Director: Lou Antonio

Writer: David E. Kelley

Name partner Edwin Poole returns from a mental institution to Crane, Poole and Schmidt, ready to jump back in, but Shirley has reservations when he decides to sue a candy company. An A.D.A. with a grudge against Alan brings charges, accusing him of advising his client to flee when a guilty verdict was inevitable. Meanwhile, Brad and Denise decide where to take their relationship.

Director: Jeff Bleckner

Writer: Michael Reisz, Andrew Kreisberg

Denny is attracted to feisty lawyer Bethany Horowitz as they try a case against an HMO, and Alan grows more attracted to Shirley as they defend a homeless man accused of cannibalism. Meanwhile, Coho continues his defense of accused murderer Scott Little.

Director: N/A

Writer: N/A

Shirley finds herself attracting the attention of the eccentric Lincoln Meyer; Denny, Bella and Bethany prepare themselves for the results of his paternity test; and Alan helps Jerry with his defense in a difficult murder case.

Director: Steve Robin

Writer: David E. Kelley