The Practice poster

TV series

The Practice

1997TV-148 seasons7.7 / 10

Between Justice And Morality Can We Choose?

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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Where to watch in United States

Checked Jul 22, 2026

The Practice is available to stream on Prime Video in United States. You can also rent or buy it from Google Play, Amazon, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. Use the direct links below to open the provider.

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Synopsis

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.”

Season 7 episodes

Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.

← Season 6

Episode 1

Privilege

44m

The strain of Lindsay's incarceration begins to affect her marriage and she lashes out at Bobby. Meanwhile, a zealous law-school grad who seeks to join the firm has a run-in with Ellenor; and Jimmy is embroiled in a 16-year-old child-kidnapping case that hinges on lawyer-client confidentiality.

Episode credits

Directed by Dennis SmithWritten by David E. KelleyGuest stars Holland Taylor, Bill Smitrovich, Cristine Rose, Mary Page Keller, Frank Birney, Ray Abruzzo, Ursula Burton, Holly Fulger

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Episode 2

Convictions

44m

Lindsay's murder conviction tries Rebecca, who's handling the appeal to the Supreme Judicial Court; Jimmy's kidnapping case turns confrontational, in and out of court.

Episode credits

Directed by Christina MusreyWritten by David E. Kelley, Jonathan ShapiroGuest stars Holland Taylor, Michelle Horn, Aloma Wright, Bill Smitrovich, Cristine Rose, Mary Page Keller, Ray Abruzzo, Holly Fulger

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Episode 3

Of Thee I Sing

44m

A resolution reached in Lindsay's murder conviction has emotional repercussions; and First Amendment issues figure oddly in Jamie's first trial, the defense of an accused flasher.

Episode credits

Directed by Michael ZinbergWritten by David E. Kelley, David E. Kelley, Jonathan ShapiroGuest stars Jon Cryer, Kate Burton, Bill Smitrovich, Frank Birney, Gibby Brand, Thomas F. Walsh, James Keane

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Episode 4

The Cradle Will Rock

44m

Religious freedom figures in a criminal case. On trial: a Christian Science couple charged with the murder of their ill child, whose parents' faith forbids medical treatment.

Episode credits

Directed by Jeannot SzwarcWritten by David E. Kelley, David E. Kelley, John TinkerGuest stars Holland Taylor, Stacey Travis, Michael Gaston, Bill Smitrovich, Paul Dooley, Mark L. Taylor, Art Frankel, Erika Schickel

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Episode 5

Neighboring Species

44m

Political, religious and moral issues surface in a trial involving medical research. Also, Lindsay, now on her own, defends a client whose singing gives a neighbor the blues.

Episode credits

Directed by Dennis SmithWritten by David E. KelleyGuest stars Holland Taylor, Robert Picardo, Susan Blommaert, Phil Abrams, Željko Ivanek, Carol Woods, Gareth Williams, Chris Ellis

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Episode 6

The Telltale Nation

44m

A sexual-abuse case involving victims of a former priest embroils Eugene; a nuisance suit filed by ex-lovers escalates into violence that rattles an already shaky Lindsay.

Episode credits

Directed by Duane ClarkWritten by David E. KelleyGuest stars Suzanne Krull, Ray Abruzzo, Arye Gross, Robert Prosky, Tim Quill, Ray Proscia, William Francis McGuire, Ken Grantham

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Episode 7

Small Sacrifices

44m

An accused molester's defense rattles Bobby, who's also unnerved by the reproach of a venerable priest; a case involving animal sacrifices embroils Ellenor.

Episode credits

Directed by Christina MusreyWritten by David E. KelleyGuest stars Peter MacKenzie, Paul Dooley, Anton Yelchin, Robert Prosky, John Sterling Carter, J. Wesley Huston, Wayne Péré, Margaret Welsh

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Episode 8

Bad to Worse

44m

Ellenor and Eugene defend a fiery yet frightened client named Cassie Ray, a murder suspect with a shadowy past. Moreover, Cassie's alibi witness has significant skeletons in her own closet. In a separate case, Lindsay reluctantly defends an airline that refuses to carry passengers of Arab descent.

Episode credits

Directed by Jeannot SzwarcWritten by David E. KelleyGuest stars Lolita Davidovich, Magda Harout, Christopher Cousins, Sayed Badreya, Richard McGonagle, Ray Abruzzo, Cheryl Carter, John Aylward

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Episode 9

The Good Fight

44m

A cop-killing case rattles Bobby, whose anemic defense of an unsavory client leads Helen to suspect that he's "tanking the trial"; a drug bust raises search-and-seizure issues.

Episode credits

Directed by Dwight H. LittleWritten by Jonathan ShapiroGuest stars Alan Dale, Suzanne Whang, Steve Ryan, Paul Dooley, Anton Yelchin, Clifton Powell, Ryan Cutrona, Jeffrey Stubblefield

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Episode 10

Silent Partners

44m

Bobby has been benched due to his erratic behavior, so Eugene must take his place as lead counsel in a controversial murder case. Meanwhile Lindsay defends a killer, against her own better judgement, and Jamie is placed in a compromising situation involving a judge

Episode credits

Directed by Dennis SmithWritten by Lukas ReiterGuest stars Alan Dale, Art LaFleur, Bill Smitrovich, Linda Hunt, Herb Mitchell, Deborah Carson, Tanya Memme, Tim Hager

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Episode 11

Down The Hatch (1)

44m

Ellenor fights to save Denise Freeman, a rehabilitated death-row prisoner who has devoted her prison time to helping younger inmates. In a last-ditch effort to stay her execution, Ellenor bases an appeal on the medication the court ordered Denise to take at trial, which prevented the jury from observing her schizophrenia. Eugene argues a civil suit that blames a beer company for the death of a college-age youth.

Episode credits

Directed by Christina MusreyWritten by David E. Kelley, Cindy LichtmanGuest stars Charlotte Cornwell, Alfre Woodard, Michael Winters, Michael Bofshever, Katie Killacky, Geraldine Singer, Rudolph Willrich, Gregory Itzin

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Episode 12

Final Judgment (2)

44m

Ellenor continues her desperate attempt to stop the execution of a mentally ill woman Denise Freeman on death row. The firm is torn over a controversial settlement in their case against an alcohol company.

Episode credits

Directed by Andy WolkWritten by David E. KelleyGuest stars David Andrews, Justin Cooper, Thomas Kopache, Alfre Woodard, Harry Lennix, Michael Bofshever, Rhett Damon, Pat Destro

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Episode 13

Character Evidence

44m8.0 / 10

Jimmy Berluti defends his high school crush, who is under investigation for a suspicious homicide, and Claire Wyatt interviews for a job at Lindsay's newly formed law firm.

Episode credits

Directed by Jeannot SzwarcWritten by David E. KelleyGuest stars Rosanna Arquette, Bill Smitrovich, Mark Moses, Carmen Argenziano, Mark Pellegrino, Ray Abruzzo, Chyler Leigh, Kerry Carney

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Episode 14

The Making of a Trial Attorney

44m

A wrongful-imprisonment suit occupies Bobby, whose client spent 15 years in jail for a killing he didn't commit; a case involving a youth's soccer injury tests Claire's mettle in court.

Episode credits

Directed by Arvin BrownWritten by David E. Kelley, Jonathan ShapiroGuest stars Ellen Bry, Robert Curtis Brown, Bill Smitrovich, Carlton Wilborn, Juanita Jennings, Chyler Leigh, Denis Arndt, Dakin Matthews

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Episode 15

Choirboys (1)

44m

Helen faces up against the firm in a case involving an accused killer whose protective mother provides alibis. A disturbed former client jarringly reenters Lindsay's life.

Episode credits

Directed by Duane ClarkWritten by David E. KelleyGuest stars Holland Taylor, Francis Guinan, Bill Smitrovich, Elizabeth Morehead, Matthew Settle, Lesley Ann Warren, Ray Abruzzo, Chyler Leigh

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Episode 16

Special Deliveries (2)

44m

Psychopaths plague Lindsay and Helen. The latter is sued by an acquitted killer for defaming his mother; the former is hounded by a deviant she once defended.

Episode credits

Directed by Rod HardyWritten by David E. KelleyGuest stars Francis Guinan, Al Bandiero, David Chisum, Bill Smitrovich, Matthew Settle, Lesley Ann Warren, Thom Barry, Ray Abruzzo

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Episode 17

Burnout

44m

The firm defends Kyle Healy, a wheelchair-bound man whose wife is charged with murdering his brother, the heir to a multimillion-dollar estate. Jimmy and Ellenor's defense is damaged by compelling circumstantial evidence; testimony about the defendant's stability — and the prosecution's playing of a shattering trump card. In other storylines, Jamie champions the cause of a lawyer who claims firms won't hire her because she's a rape victim; and Bobby, whose marriage is in trouble, links up with an old flame.

Episode credits

Directed by Christina MusreyWritten by David E. Kelley, David E. Kelley, Christopher ReeveGuest stars Christopher Reeve, Bill Smitrovich, Meredith Vieira, Teri Polo, Earl Boen, Richard McGonagle, Jennifer Savidge, Carolyn McCormick

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Episode 18

Capitol Crimes

44m

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.

Episode credits

Directed by Joseph Berger-DavisWritten by David E. Kelley, Lukas Reiter, Jonathan ShapiroGuest stars David Garrison, Kyle Massey, Sam Jones, Teri Polo, Armand Schultz, Chyler Leigh, Cheryl Carter, Hugh Holub

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Episode 19

Les Is More

44m

A crazed fame-seeker takes CBS CEO Les Moonves hostage in a ploy for TV time to be negotiated by Jimmy, also a hostage.

Episode credits

Directed by Dennis SmithWritten by David E. KelleyGuest stars Andie MacDowell, Jerry Penacoli, Crista Flanagan, Teri Polo, Karen Hensel, Ben Mankiewicz, Ray Abruzzo, Chyler Leigh

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Episode 20

Heroes and Villians

44m

A date-rape case links the accused to Jamie, a former victim; the return of crazed Stanley Deeks prompts terrified Lindsay to take drastic action that could jeopardize her career.

Episode credits

Directed by LisaGay HamiltonWritten by David E. KelleyGuest stars Holland Taylor, Susan Floyd, Matthew Settle, Teri Polo, Jim Moret, Richard McGonagle, Ray Abruzzo, Chyler Leigh

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Episode 21

Baby Love (1)

44m

The collapse of Bobby's marriage is a prelude to a professional crisis. Also, the firm defends a wife on trial for slaying her abusive husband and represents a 10-year-old in a liability suit.

Episode credits

Directed by Jeannot SzwarcWritten by David E. Kelley, Bill Chais, Pamela J. WisneGuest stars Holland Taylor, Chelsea Tavares, Teri Polo, Ray Abruzzo, Chyler Leigh, Steven Culp, Shea Farrell, Brenda James

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Episode 22

Goodbye (2)

44mfinale

Shocking twists in the trial of an accused wife-killer rattle Jimmy and Rebecca. Bobby's news to the firm devastates Eugene and has an impact on Lindsay.

Episode credits

Directed by Michael ZinbergWritten by Peter Blake, David E. KelleyGuest stars Melinda McGraw, Keith MacKechnie, Bill Smitrovich, Chyler Leigh, Mik Scriba, Billy Campbell, Loanne Bishop, Aynsley Lemon

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Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026

More about The Practice

Cast

Dylan McDermottBobby Donnell
Steve HarrisEugene Young
Camryn ManheimEllenor Frutt
Michael BadaluccoJimmy Berluti
Jessica CapshawJamie Stringer
LisaGay HamiltonRebecca Washington
Kelli WilliamsLindsay Dole
Lara Flynn BoyleHelen Gamble

Credits

Created by
David E. Kelley

Production details

Status
Ended
Series type
Scripted
Episodes
168
Original language
English

Networks & production

  • ABCUnited States
  • David E. Kelley ProductionsUnited States
  • Daydreamers Entertainment
  • Decode Entertainment
  • 20th Century Fox TelevisionUnited States

Themes

boldboston, massachusettscomplexdramaticintenselaw firmlawyerserious