The series starts with David ""Skip"" Ross (Jay Baruchel, ""Undeclared""), 19, a brilliant legal prodigy, dreams of becoming a great trial lawyer. When he can't land a job at a prestigious L.A. firm because he's too young, Skip ends up working for Grant Cooper (Don Johnson). Once a great lawyer, now burnt-out by the realities of life, Cooper is barely scraping by in his beachfront law office. Together, Skip and Cooper become defenders of the accused and crusaders for the unjustly wronged. Their cases vary from stories ripped from today's headlines to clever mysteries with procedural twists. Skip's middle-class parents, Deborah (guest star Veanne Cox) and Lenny Ross (guest star Raphael Sbarge), and his under-achieving younger brother Tom Ross (guest star Reiley McClendon), are all extremely proud of Skip's accomplishments, but are also concerned for his well-being, especially when his first case involves proving the innocence of a young woman named Paradise (guest star Peyton List) who has
Skip and Cooper are involved in case of a young black teenager, Zeke Rawlins who is charged in a homicide crime when a liquor store clerk in his neighborhood is shot. Although, the evidence is pointed very highly against him due to is background of living in the gang infested neighborhood and being in the store at the time of shooting and carrying a gun that a cop later finds. Cooper and Skip clash on Skip's refusal to conduct himself in a proper manner while in court and not to just rant---especially when going up against ADA Dick Dietz.
Skip and Cooper are involved in a criminal case involving a woman named Nadine Abbot who is suing her plastic surgeon, Dr. Steven Benson as her tummy tuck surgery went horribly wrong. The surgery left her paralyzed from the waist down. Skip and Cooper try to prove their case as Nadine did leave a few minor medical details hidden before her surgical procedure. But that may not be the case as evidence later uncovers that Dr. Benson may have been intoxicated while performing the surgical procedure.
Skip and Cooper are involved on a case involving 25 year-old pretty boy real estate agent, Sean Walker who is in jail after a dead body of a girl is found in his car trunk. He's having a rough time adjusting to jail. Skip and Cooper's attempt to release him on bail are unsuccessful from the judge's standpoint of evidence. Sean does not know how the girl got in his trunk as he was sick with the flu and inside his house for days before he came out when the body was discovered. Defense attorneys Skip and Cooper find out everything they can to get him off. Also, Skip is having a major problem with his landlord as his apartment is completely flooded due to poor pipes and his landlord's refusal to let him back into his apartment as he's changed the locks when Skip refuses to pay the rent under his poor conditions.
Cooper and Skip are involved on a case involving a young dead Rebecca Atwill who was found washed up ashore on a beach and her husband Joe Atwill being arrested for her death. The night before they were previously arguing as partygoers on their boat were witnesses. Skip and Cooper do their best to help show Joe's innocence.
Skip and Dee are dealing with a rape case between two college students. Skip's client Susan Palavi claimed that her former boyfriend Jared raped her at a party after they broke up, while Jared claims differently. Although, the case gets even more complicated when another raped victim comes out in the open to expose Jared's past deeds.
Skip and Cooper's case involves a young man named Claude Osteen who was accused of killing his best friend Billy and stuffing his corpse in his locker. Skip and Dulcinea interview Claude's mom Carol and find out Claude used to be like Skip when he was younger until he was picked on in high school and eventually dropped out.
A young waitress is killed in her car and the only suspect the police have is the bus boy, an illegal immigrant from the Philippines, who doesn't speak a word of English. Cooper and Skip take the case, but Cooper gets arrested for slapping his client.