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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!

Binge this in 5d 3h•Peaking at 8.9/10

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 5 Episode 8 - Mr. Hinks Goes to Town
    8.9/10(177 votes)

    #1 - Mr. Hinks Goes to Town

    S5:E8

    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.

    Director:Jeannot Szwarc
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  2. The Practice Season 5 Episode 20 - The Case of Harland Bassett
    8.9/10(145 votes)

    #2 - The Case of Harland Bassett

    S5:E20

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Practice Season 4 Episode 20 - Liberty Bells (2)
    8.8/10(124 votes)

    #3 - Liberty Bells (2)

    S4:E20

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

    Director:Michael Schultz
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  4. The Practice Season 4 Episode 13 - Hammerhead Sharks (2)
    8.7/10(124 votes)

    #4 - Hammerhead Sharks (2)

    S4:E13

    Dennis Mills maintains his innocence. The firm continues the trial, striving against all odds to exonerate Mills.

    Director:Dennis Smith
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  5. The Practice Season 3 Episode 16 - End Games
    8.6/10(126 votes)

    #5 - 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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  6. The Practice Season 3 Episode 19 - Closet Justice
    8.6/10(146 votes)

    #6 - 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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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Practice

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  7. The Practice Season 3 Episode 23 - Happily Ever After
    8.6/10(129 votes)

    #7 - 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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  8. The Practice Season 5 Episode 9 - The Deal
    8.6/10(126 votes)

    #8 - The Deal

    S5:E9

    Scott Wallace, William Hinks, and a high profile kidnapping case converge to make this one of the most explosive episode of The Practice thus far. First, Bobby is forced to choose between his responsibilities to his client and the life of a 7-year-old girl when his client knows the kidnapped girl's wherabouts but refuses to divulge her location unless he receives a cushy plea bargain. William Hinks, the acquitted serial killer, begins stalking Lindsay. Meanwhile, an increasingly agitated Scott Wallace is fired from his job and tries to convince his employer that he deserves to be rehired.

    Director:Dan Attias
    Writers:Peter Blake, David E. Kelley

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  9. The Practice Season 8 Episode 11 - Police State
    8.6/10(159 votes)

    #9 - Police State

    S8:E11

    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.

    Director:Andy Wolk
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  10. The Practice Season 1 Episode 4 - Part IV
    8.5/10(196 votes)

    #10 - 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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  11. The Practice Season 2 Episode 17 - Burden of Proof
    8.5/10(147 votes)

    #11 - Burden of Proof

    S2:E17

    The trial against Boston Electric begins, with Jimmy bringing both a weak case and doubts as to whether his star witness will be sober, into court.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  12. The Practice Season 3 Episode 7 - Trench Work
    8.5/10(125 votes)

    #12 - Trench Work

    S3:E7

    Bobby fears that Lindsay is too emotionally involved as she takes her last shot at saving Pearson. The firm is sued by Steve Robin, who claims the firm slandered him in the Vogelman trial. Eugene strikes an illegal deal with Helen to help his client Kevin Peete in exchange for damaging information on the Harrelson killer.

    Director:Oz Scott
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  13. The Practice Season 5 Episode 21 - Poor Richard's Almanac
    8.5/10(116 votes)

    #13 - Poor Richard's Almanac

    S5:E21

    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.

    Director:Jeannot Szwarc
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Practice Season 5 Episode 22 - Public Servants
    8.4/10(115 votes)

    #14 - Public Servants

    S5:E22

    Helen is enraged by Richard Bay's execution and determined to punish Jackie Cahill and all other responsible parties. She makes a deal with Cahill, offering him immunity on Bay's murder plus the added bonus that she won't announce that he's a snitch and release him into the general prison population if he gives up the shooter. He agrees. After the shooter has been killed by police, Helen reneges on the deal, claiming Jackie hasn't fulfilled the terms of the agreement. Jackie's lawyer protests and drags Helen into court. Meanwhile, Rebecca and Jimmy defend a man on charges that he strangled his wife. Rebecca is adamant about the man's innocence, arguing that the only reason he's being prosecuted is because he was stunned by his wife's death and gave the investigating officer erroneous information. Rebecca and Jimmy are shocked to later learn that their client has a history of strangling both women and chickens.

    Director:Dennis Smith
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  15. The Practice Season 6 Episode 1 - The Candidate (1)
    8.4/10(114 votes)

    #15 - The Candidate (1)

    S6:E1

    A sensational murder case embroils a charismatic state senator, on trial for killing the man purported to be his wife's lover. Part 1 of two.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Practice Season 2 Episode 20 - Cloudy with a Chance of Membranes (2)
    8.3/10(138 votes)

    #16 - Cloudy with a Chance of Membranes (2)

    S2:E20

    The saga of Dr. Jeffery Winslow continues. Bobby uses every trick in the book to keep Dr. Winslow out of jail.

    Director:Dennie Gordon
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  17. The Practice Season 4 Episode 3 - Loser's Keepers
    8.3/10(120 votes)

    #17 - Loser's Keepers

    S4:E3

    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.

    Director:Dennis Smith
    Writers:David E. Kelley, Christopher Mack

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  18. The Practice Season 6 Episode 6 - Vanished (2)
    8.3/10(103 votes)

    #18 - Vanished (2)

    S6:E6

    Startling revelations complicate a kidnapping case, which hinges on the testimony of a mysterious recluse with a secret past. Conclusion.

    Director:Duane Clark
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Practice Season 6 Episode 7 - Honor Code
    8.3/10(111 votes)

    #19 - Honor Code

    S6:E7

    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.

    Director:Jeannot Szwarc
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  20. The Practice Season 8 Episode 18 - The Case Against Alan Shore (3)
    8.3/10(134 votes)

    #20 - The Case Against Alan Shore (3)

    S8:E18

    Eugene and his firm stand against Alan Shore and his "new" firm. The entire episode revolves around Eugene, Ellenor, and Jimmy testifing that Alan doesn't deserve the amount of money Alan proposed. Can Ellenor really testify against her friend? How will Alan go against his old firm?

    Director:Bill D'Elia
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  21. The Practice Season 2 Episode 2 - Betrayal
    8.2/10(196 votes)

    #21 - 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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  22. The Practice Season 2 Episode 23 - Checkmate
    8.2/10(131 votes)

    #22 - Checkmate

    S2:E23

    Joey's case comes to trial. Ellenor represents a woman heckled by a carnival clown.

    Director:Adam Nimoy
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  23. The Practice Season 3 Episode 3 - Body Count
    8.2/10(131 votes)

    #23 - Body Count

    S3:E3

    Bobby and Lindsay lay the groundwork for the Pearson trial. George Vogelman, the podiatrist that answered Ellenor's personal ad (episodes #5, #12), comes into the office with a severed head in his medicine bag. Ellenor and Eugene try to determine what to do with Vogelman. Jimmy and Rebecca defend Jesse Manning, an elderly man accused of plotting to murder his wife. The prosecution's case is based solely on evidence of his step-by-step drawings of the murder and an intricately devised plan for the perfect murder.

    Director:Oz Scott
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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  24. The Practice Season 3 Episode 6 - One of Those Days
    8.2/10(122 votes)

    #24 - One of Those Days

    S3:E6

    Tensions flare at the firm when Ellenor takes a questionable tactic in the Vogelman trial. With the odds stacked against them, Ellenor and Eugene adopt a 'Plan B' strategy, which essentially involves accusing the victim's family and friends of the murder.

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

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  25. The Practice Season 4 Episode 14 - Checkmates
    8.2/10(108 votes)

    #25 - Checkmates

    S4:E14

    Ellenor defends a 'slow' teenager accused of killing a younger boy. A witness comes forward claiming to have information exonerating her client, but Ellenor suspects he's lying. Helen calls in a police officer when his son is under suspicion in a homicide. Representing the accused, Bobby argues the officer was acting as an agent of the court, not a father.

    Director:Andy Wolk
    Writer:David E. Kelley

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Best Episodes Summary

"Mr. Hinks Goes to Town" is the best rated episode of "The Practice". It scored 8.9/10 based on 177 votes. Directed by Jeannot Szwarc and written by David E. Kelley, it aired on 11/26/2000. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Case of Harland Bassett".