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The Best Episodes of The Practice

Every episode of The Practice ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Practice!

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A provocative legal drama focused on young associates at a bare-bones Boston firm and their scrappy boss, Bobby Donnell. The show's forte is its storylines about “people who walk a moral tightrope.”

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Practice Season 2 Episode 2 - Betrayal
    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #1 - Betrayal

    S2:E2

    The firm defends Joey Heric, a colorful client on trial for the murder of his lover. Jimmy is tried on solicitation charges by a vengeful district attorney.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  2. The Practice Season 2 Episode 11 - Hide and Seek
    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #2 - Hide and Seek

    S2:E11

    Bobby and Lindsay second-chair Bobby's old mentor, Raymond Oz, when Oz fears he's losing his memory. Eugene struggles with his conscience when he defends a man on trial for raping and murdering two boys. Jimmy's fantasies come true when a childhood sex symbol seeks his legal counsel.

    Director:Steve Miner
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  3. The Practice Season 3 Episode 19 - Closet Justice
    9.5/10(2 votes)

    #3 - Closet Justice

    S3:E19

    Judge Hiller assigns Lindsay the repugnant task of defending nun-killer Michael Kingston. Lindsay discovers that the police search that found the body was unconstitutional and, against all her morals, moves that Kingston be released. Helen delivers an impassioned argument, stating that the constitution was designed to protect the innocent, a category that doesn't include Kingston. In the end, Judge Hiller has no choice but to strike the body from evidence and dismiss the charges. Meanwhile, Jimmy and Rebecca defend a man on solicitation charges, claiming that the undercover officer aroused the man, then announced she was a prostitute. Jimmy and Judge Kittleson arrange a private meeting.

    Director:Alex Graves
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  4. The Practice Season 1 Episode 1 - Part I (Pilot)
    9.0/10(4 votes)

    #4 - Part I (Pilot)

    S1:E1

    Bobby defends Rachel Reynolds, a young woman facing drug charges. She is not a drug dealer, but was trying to cover for her brother. Lindsay represents Emerson Ray, who is suing a tobacco company in a wrongful death suit. Lindsay's favourite law professor, Anderson Pearson, represents the defence. Eugene represents "Free Willy", a man who exposes himself in public.

    Director:Mick Jackson
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  5. The Practice Season 2 Episode 3 - The Blessing
    9.0/10(2 votes)

    #5 - The Blessing

    S2:E3

    Bobby and Gamble clash in and out of the courtroom when an emotional assisted-suicide case forces them to confront painful memories. Meanwhile, Lindsay goes head-to-head with her ex-boyfriend when she defends an elderly bookie.

    Director:Lee Bonner
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  6. The Practice Season 2 Episode 4 - Dog Bite
    9.0/10(2 votes)

    #6 - Dog Bite

    S2:E4

    Jimmy finally gets his first case, that of a little girl bitten by a dog. A juror approaches Lindsay with inside information on a case. Eugene defends a one-legged mugger.

    Director:Steve Miner
    Writers:David E. Kelley, David Shore

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Practice

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  7. The Practice Season 2 Episode 13 - The Civil Right
    9.0/10(2 votes)

    #7 - The Civil Right

    S2:E13

    Jimmy is furious when his mother reveals her love for another woman. He feels obligated to represent her in court when she requests he argue her right to marry her lover. Meanwhile, Eugene refuses to defend a rapist after he runs into one of his client's victims in a clothing store.

    Director:David Hugh Jones
    Writers:B.J. White, Joseph Telushkin, Allen Estrin

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  8. The Practice Season 2 Episode 21 - In Deep
    9.0/10(2 votes)

    #8 - In Deep

    S2:E21

    The Luis Moreno case finally comes to trial with Rebecca more determined than ever to testify. Ellenor rushes off to defend Cruikshank again, leaving Lindsay to defend a man being cited for using too much water in his toilet. Eugene faces his own prejudices during an altercation with a dry cleaner.

    Director:Oz Scott
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  9. The Practice Season 3 Episode 16 - End Games
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #9 - End Games

    S3:E16

    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.

    Director:Keith Samples
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  10. The Practice Season 3 Episode 17 - Target Practice
    9.0/10(2 votes)

    #10 - Target Practice

    S3:E17

    Jimmy represents a couple suing a gun manufacturer for indirectly causing their daughter's death. Jimmy argues that the company targeted advertising at criminals and also circumvented gun laws by selling mail-order build-it-yourself assault weapons. Eugene is stunned to learn his son Kendall is selling drugs.

    Director:John Patterson
    Writers:Alfonso H. Moreno, Cindy Lichtman

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  11. The Practice Season 3 Episode 23 - Happily Ever After
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - Happily Ever After

    S3:E23

    Lindsay is stabbed by an unknown assailant wearing a nun's outfit during a late night at the office. Lindsay manages to utter the word 'nun' to Bobby before she passes out. Based on the information, Helen drags nuns into the courthouse for interrogation, reasoning that a nun upset over Michael (the nun killer) Kingston's acquittal may have committed the crime. Jimmy finds a photo of Lindsay with her image defaced in Judge Kittleson's office, bring a fleet of police to her home. Other suspects include Kingston himself and Joey Heric.

    Director:Dwight H. Little
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  12. The Practice Season 4 Episode 20 - Liberty Bells (2)
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #12 - Liberty Bells (2)

    S4:E20

    Ellenor continues the Donovan case, following up on the various leads to exonerate her client.

    Director:Michael Schultz
    Writers:David E. Kelley, Alfonso H. Moreno

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  13. The Practice Season 5 Episode 13 - The Thin Line
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - The Thin Line

    S5:E13

    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.

    Director:Dennis Smith
    Writers:David E. Kelley, Lynne E. Litt

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  14. The Practice Season 2 Episode 8 - The Means
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #14 - The Means

    S2:E8

    A black client is tried for the brutal beating of a department store security guard during a riot. Bobby plans to use a defense very unpopular with both his client and second-chair Eugene. Meanwhile, Ellenor's obnoxious cousin wants to sue the travel agent that booked her honeymoon on allegations of 'emotional distress'.

    Director:Oz Scott
    Writer:Todd Ellis Kessler

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  15. The Practice Season 2 Episode 9 - Save the Mule
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #15 - Save the Mule

    S2:E9

    Lindsay is hired by a drug dealer to defend his "mule" who's been caught smuggling drugs over the border. Jimmy takes on a case of a community stricken by cancer. Bobby must decide with whom he wants to pursue a romance.

    Director:John Patterson
    Writers:Ed Redlich, Andrew Smith

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  16. The Practice Season 1 Episode 2 - Part II
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #16 - Part II

    S1:E2

    Bobby represents a man facing armed robbery charges. His strategy is to plead out to lesser charges. Eugene's client fears for her and her 11 year old son's safety, at the hands of her ex-husband. Eugene makes several attempts to get a restraining order. The situation has deadly consequences. Bobby tries to secure a loan and pays a visit to Jimmy Berluti, his friend and banker.

    Director:Michael Pressman
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  17. The Practice Season 1 Episode 3 - Trial and Error
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #17 - Trial and Error

    S1:E3

    Bobby plans to represent Gerald Braun in a wrongful death suit against Ronald Martin. Eugene's "Free Willy" returns, after being arrested in a peculiar position with a hooker. Defence Lawyers in the Emerson Ray case make a motion to have the case dismissed. Bobby fears that the judge is biased. Jimmy, Bobby's friend the banker, is fired for approving a construction loan under false pretences and Bobby decides to hire him.

    Director:Rick Rosenthal
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  18. The Practice Season 1 Episode 4 - Part IV
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #18 - Part IV

    S1:E4

    An extremely nervous Lindsey goes up against the tobacco industry and her old Law School Professor in her very first jury trial. Outraged by the release of his daughter's killer, Dr. Braun takes matters into his own hands.

    Director:James Frawley
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  19. The Practice Season 1 Episode 5 - Part V
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #19 - Part V

    S1:E5

    Preparing for Dr. Braun's murder trial, Jimmy comes up with a controversial defence after the client refuses to argue temporary insanity. Meanwhile, Eugene bets both Lindsey and an ADA that he can win a hopeless case, and Ellenor finally comes face to face with the Podiatrist she met through the personal ads.

    Director:Michael Schultz
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  20. The Practice Season 1 Episode 6 - Part VI
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #20 - Part VI

    S1:E6

    Dr. Braun's emotional and outrageous murder trial finally begins, with Bobby going up against a known ADA who is also a famous Rabbi. Eugene represents a boy accused of statutory rape, after he impregnates a 13 year old girl.

    Director:Dennie Gordon
    Writer:Ed Redlich

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  21. The Practice Season 2 Episode 1 - Reasonable Doubts
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #21 - Reasonable Doubts

    S2:E1

    Bobby's judgment is called into question by the firm's other members when he becomes romantically involved with a beautiful, icy client who shot to death a male neighbor she claims was attempting to rape her. The prosecution says it was murder.

    Director:Michael Pressman
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  22. The Practice Season 2 Episode 6 - Sex, Lies and Monkeys (2)
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #22 - Sex, Lies and Monkeys (2)

    S2:E6

    Ellenor is sued by George Vogelman, her podiatrist friend, for causing him emotional distress, while Jimmy defends a man who lost his job because in the eyes of his boss, he looks like a monkey. Lindsay has hazy recollections about a night out with Chris Kelton.

    Director:Jonathan Pontell
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. The Practice Season 2 Episode 7 - Search and Seizure
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #23 - Search and Seizure

    S2:E7

    Rebecca's friend enlists the firm to try to set a legal precedent by forcing his wife to have a C-section against her wishes. Benny Small is tried for drug possession.

    Director:Michael Schultz
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  24. The Practice Season 2 Episode 10 - Spirit of America
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #24 - Spirit of America

    S2:E10

    Donnell & Associates travel to Redland Hills in a last minute attempt to get a stay of execution for convicted murderer Randall Jefferson while a documentary crew watches their every move.

    Director:Michael Schultz
    Writer:Ed Redlich

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  25. The Practice Season 2 Episode 12 - Race with the Devil
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #25 - Race with the Devil

    S2:E12

    When Bobby's priest performs an exorcism on a parishioner, who dies during the procedure, Bobby must manipulate the system to shield Father Martin from murder charges; Eugene represents Martin Parks in a bizarre malpractice suit. Jimmy decides to tape a television commercial, a decision that proves unpopular with his colleagues.

    Director:Oz Scott
    Writers:David E. Kelley, David Shore

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Best Episodes Summary

"Betrayal" is the best rated episode of "The Practice". It scored 10/10 based on 1 votes. Directed by Thomas Schlamme and written by David E. Kelley, it aired on 9/23/1997. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Hide and Seek".