Boston Legal

10 Best Episodes of Boston Legal

Alan Shore and Denny Crane lead a brigade of high-priced civil litigators in an upscale Boston law firm in a series focusing on the professional and personal lives of brilliant but often emotionally challenged attorneys. A spin-off of long-running series The Practice.

Written by Sophie and last updated on jan 26, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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Boston Legal - S3E24

#15 - Trial of the Century (Season 3 - Episode 24)

Alan and Denny co-council two brother accused of murdering their father. But when Alan predicts a losing verdict, Denny concocts a plan to cast reasonable doubt on their guilt.Meanwhile, Shirley is furious when Jerry and Clarence take the case of a woman suing a casino for losing money.

The episode was rated 8.06 from 183 votes.

Boston Legal - S4E20

#14 - Patriot Acts (Season 4 - Episode 20)

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Patriotism is in the air as Alan and Denny celebrate their acceptance into the Auxiliary Coast Guard. But when the town of Concord, Massachusetts decides to secede from the United States, Alan accepts the case, and deeply offends Denny. The case takes a personal turn when Denny represents the opposing side in court.

The episode was rated 8.08 from 173 votes.

Boston Legal - S2E23

#13 - Race Ipsa (Season 2 - Episode 23)

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 arrested for being in a white neighborhood, and Brad asks Denise to teach him to be a better kisser.

The episode was rated 8.08 from 229 votes.

Boston Legal - S1E9

#12 - A Greater Good (Season 1 - Episode 9)

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Alan and Denny defend a drug company that is being sued by a woman who states they provided false reasoning when they took her off of an experimental pill that was a possible cure for her sickness. Alan and Denny discover a shocking secret that could make or break their case and because of that, they become at odds with each other on how to proceed. Lori discovers that Tara's new information for their case would win it for them, but the way she retrieved it could cost them their case and their careers. Lori learns a secret about Brad.

The episode was rated 8.09 from 316 votes.

Boston Legal - S2E3

#11 - Finding Nimmo (Season 2 - Episode 3)

Denny takes Alan to Nimmo Bay, 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.

The episode was rated 8.10 from 289 votes.

Boston Legal - S5E3

#10 - Dances with Wolves (Season 5 - Episode 3)

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Denny Crane is arrested yet again for carrying a concealed firearm after he shoots a man in self defense who's attempting to mug him and Jerry Espenson. Meanwhile, Alan Shore fights for a sex surrogate's right to joint custody of her daughter -- while grappling with the fact that he was a former client of hers

The episode was rated 8.11 from 164 votes.

Boston Legal - S5E11

#9 - Juiced (Season 5 - Episode 11)

After Denny learns some disturbing news about the progression of his Alzheimer's disease and that an experimental drug might help, Alan tries to convince the Massachusetts Supreme Court to let his best friend have access to it. Meanwhile the murderous Catherine Piper returns, and Jerry and Katie take on the case of an ambitious student accused of cheating on her SATs.

The episode was rated 8.13 from 160 votes.

Boston Legal - S5E4

#8 - True Love (Season 5 - Episode 4)

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Alan Shore is called upon by ex-flame Phoebe Prentice to prove her husband's innocence in the murder of a nurse. But deep down, Alan's unrequited love for Phoebe makes him hope that her husband is guilty so that they can rekindle their relationship.

The episode was rated 8.14 from 180 votes.

Boston Legal - S1E11

#7 - Schmidt Happens (Season 1 - Episode 11)

A Sudanese native wants to sue the U.S. government for the lack of action taken against the mayhem happening in his country and Paul looks to Lori to take the case. Founding partner Shirley Schmidt arrives with a mission to bring order to the firm. While making herself known, she has to deal with Denny who does not wanting her there, help with Lori's extremely high profile case, and learns that she has to keep her eye on Alan. Alan ends up defending a man who killed his mother in a fit of rage but by accident.

The episode was rated 8.14 from 315 votes.

Boston Legal - S4E16

#6 - The Mighty Rogues (Season 4 - Episode 16)

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After her father -- who is in the late stages of a debilitating fight with Alzheimer's -- injures himself and lands in the hospital, Shirley Schmidt wants to end his suffering and asks Alan Shore to argue in court on her behalf. Meanwhile Jerry Espenson's beautiful, new girlfriend sues him for sexual assault, and Carl Sack represents the island of Nantucket whose residents want to build a nuclear bomb in case of attack.

The episode was rated 8.15 from 185 votes.

Boston Legal - S2E27

#5 - BL: Los Angeles (Season 2 - Episode 27)

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.

The episode was rated 8.16 from 217 votes.

Boston Legal - S1E17

#4 - Death Be Not Proud (Season 1 - Episode 17)

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Chelina asks Alan to assist her in Texas because her former client is getting executed but may be innocent of the crime. An old friend of Denny and Shirley asks them for legal representation when she charged with having sexual encounters for a fee. Lori files a complaint about Denny with Shirley and Paul and they seriously consider doing something about it; especially when they suspect he performed an unethical act on his recent case.

The episode was rated 8.18 from 288 votes.

Boston Legal - S4E17

#3 - The Court Supreme (Season 4 - Episode 17)

Alan Shore gets the dream of a lifetime for an attorney when he is asked to present an appeal to the Supreme Court in the case of a mentally challenged man who has been sentenced to death for the rape of a young girl. Meanwhile, Katie Lloyd learns some startling news from Lorraine Weller about Jerry Espenson's new girlfriend.

The episode was rated 8.26 from 183 votes.

Boston Legal - S5E12

#2 - Made in China (1) (Season 5 - Episode 12)

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Part 1 of the series finale. Shirley seeks an injunction to prevent a Chinese company from buying out Crane, Poole & Schmidt. Denny gets arrested for breaking into a neighbor's home.

The episode was rated 8.33 from 159 votes.

Boston Legal - S5E13

#1 - Last Call (2) (Season 5 - Episode 13)

Part 2 of the series finale. Shirley's dream of a church wedding doesn't turn out as she planned. Instead, she and Carl say their "I do's" on a dock at Nimmo Bay, along with another couple in a very special double ceremony.

The episode was rated 8.58 from 86 votes.

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