The Practice 1997
“Between Justice And Morality Can We Choose?”
What is The Practice?
The Practice is an American legal drama television series created by David E. Kelley that aired on ABC from 1997 to 2004.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1997
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 168
- Runtime
- 44 minutes
- First aired
- Mar 4, 1997
- Last aired
- May 16, 2004
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- ABC
- Genres
- Drama
- Updated
Where to watch
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How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 168 episodes and an average 44-minute runtime.
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Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
The Practice is an American legal drama television series created by David E. Kelley that aired on ABC from 1997 to 2004. The show centers on the lawyers of a Boston law firm, primarily focusing on the character of Bobby Donnell, the firm's founder and senior defense attorney. Known for its exploration of moral ambiguity, the series follows the professional and personal challenges of defense attorneys handling controversial and often high-profile cases. The firm, which evolves from a small operation to a larger practice over time, deals with both criminal and civil matters that raise complex ethical questions. The show's narrative emphasizes the tension between legal strategy and moral responsibility, often highlighting the difficulties faced by lawyers defending unpopular clients. Throughout its run, The Practice developed a reputation for addressing timely social and legal issues through its storylines. It featured a rotating ensemble cast, with Dylan McDermott portraying the lead role of Bobby Donnell. The series was recognized for its adult-oriented approach to legal drama during its eight-season run.
Should you watch it?
“A scrappy Boston law firm defends the morally complex cases others avoid.”
- Strong focus on moral dilemmas in law
- Well-developed ensemble cast
- Realistic portrayal of legal struggles
- Can be slow-paced for some viewers
- Heavy on dialogue and courtroom scenes
You enjoy character-driven legal dramas with ethical complexity.
Suitable for mature audiences due to thematic content involving moral ambiguity and adult situations.
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Episode guide
Spoiler-Safe Browsing Progress
Season 1 · 6 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 Part I (Pilot) Mytharc Mar 4, 1997
- E2 Part II Core Mar 11, 1997
- E3 Trial and Error Core Mar 18, 1997
- E4 Part IV Mytharc Mar 25, 1997
- E5 Part V Mytharc Apr 1, 1997
- E6 Part VI Mytharc Apr 8, 1997
Season 2 · 28 episodes
Open the complete Season 2 guide & lore primer →- E1 Reasonable Doubts Mytharc Sep 20, 1997
- E2 Betrayal Core Sep 23, 1997
- E3 The Blessing Core Sep 27, 1997
- E4 Dog Bite Core Oct 4, 1997
- E5 First Degree (1) Core Oct 11, 1997
- E6 Sex, Lies and Monkeys (2) Core Oct 18, 1997
- E7 Search and Seizure Core Oct 25, 1997
- E8 The Means Core Nov 8, 1997
- E9 Save the Mule Core Nov 15, 1997
- E10 Spirit of America Core Nov 22, 1997
- E11 Hide and Seek Core Nov 29, 1997
- E12 Race with the Devil Mytharc Dec 13, 1997
- E13 The Civil Right Mytharc Dec 20, 1997
- E14 The Pursuit of Dignity Core Jan 3, 1998
- E15 Line of Duty Core Jan 5, 1998
- E16 Truth and Consequences Core Jan 12, 1998
- E17 Burden of Proof Core Jan 19, 1998
- E18 Ties That Bind Core Feb 2, 1998
- E19 The Trial (1) Core Feb 9, 1998
- E20 Cloudy With a Chance of Membranes (2) Core Feb 16, 1998
- E21 In Deep Core Mar 2, 1998
- E22 Another Day Core Mar 9, 1998
- E23 Checkmate Core Mar 16, 1998
- E24 Trees in the Forest Core Mar 30, 1998
- E25 Food Chains Core Apr 6, 1998
- E26 Axe Murderer (II) Core Apr 27, 1998
- E27 Duty Bound Mytharc May 4, 1998
- E28 Rhyme and Reason Mytharc May 11, 1998
Season 3 · 23 episodes
Open the complete Season 3 guide & lore primer →- E1 Passing Go Mytharc Sep 27, 1998
- E2 Reasons to Believe Core Oct 4, 1998
- E3 Body Count Core Oct 11, 1998
- E4 The Defenders Core Oct 18, 1998
- E5 The Battlefield Core Oct 25, 1998
- E6 One of Those Days Core Nov 8, 1998
- E7 Trench Work Core Nov 15, 1998
- E8 Swearing In Core Nov 29, 1998
- E9 State of Mind Core Dec 6, 1998
- E10 Love and Honor Core Dec 13, 1998
- E11 Split Decisions Core Jan 3, 1999
- E12 A Day in the Life Core Jan 10, 1999
- E13 Judge and Jury Core Jan 17, 1999
- E14 Of Human Bondage Core Feb 7, 1999
- E15 Lawyers, Reporters, and Cockroaches Core Feb 21, 1999
- E16 End Games Core Feb 28, 1999
- E17 Target Practice Core Mar 7, 1999
- E18 Crossfire Core Mar 14, 1999
- E19 Closet Justice Core Mar 28, 1999
- E20 Home Invasions Core Apr 18, 1999
- E21 Infected Core Apr 25, 1999
- E22 Do Unto Others Mytharc May 2, 1999
- E23 Happily Ever After Mytharc May 9, 1999
Season 4 · 22 episodes
Open the complete Season 4 guide & lore primer →- E1 Free Dental Mytharc Sep 26, 1999
- E2 Boston Confidential Core Oct 3, 1999
- E3 Loser's Keepers Core Oct 10, 1999
- E4 Legacy (1) Core Oct 17, 1999
- E5 Oz (2) Core Oct 24, 1999
- E6 Marooned Core Nov 7, 1999
- E7 Victimless Crimes Mytharc Nov 14, 1999
- E8 Committed Core Nov 21, 1999
- E9 Bay of Pigs Core Nov 28, 1999
- E10 Day in Court Core Dec 12, 1999
- E11 Blowing Smoke Core Jan 9, 2000
- E12 New Evidence (1) Core Jan 30, 2000
- E13 Hammerhead Sharks (2) Core Feb 6, 2000
- E14 Checkmates Core Feb 13, 2000
- E15 Race Ipsa Loquitor Mytharc Feb 20, 2000
- E16 Settling Core Mar 12, 2000
- E17 Black Widows Core Apr 2, 2000
- E18 Death Penalties Core Apr 9, 2000
- E19 Till Death Do Us Part (1) Core Apr 30, 2000
- E20 Liberty Bells (2) Core May 7, 2000
- E21 The Honorable Man Mytharc May 14, 2000
- E22 Life Sentence Mytharc May 21, 2000
Season 5 · 22 episodes
Open the complete Season 5 guide & lore primer →- E1 Summary Judgments Mytharc Oct 8, 2000
- E2 Germ Warfare Core Oct 15, 2000
- E3 Officers of the Court Core Oct 22, 2000
- E4 Appeal and Denial Core Oct 29, 2000
- E5 We Hold These Truths... Core Nov 5, 2000
- E6 Show and Tell Core Nov 12, 2000
- E7 Brothers' Keepers Mytharc Nov 19, 2000
- E8 Mr. Hinks Goes to Town Core Nov 26, 2000
- E9 The Deal Core Dec 10, 2000
- E10 Friends and Ex-Lovers Core Dec 17, 2000
- E11 An Early Frost Core Jan 7, 2001
- E12 Payback Core Jan 14, 2001
- E13 The Thin Line Core Feb 4, 2001
- E14 The Day After (I) Core Feb 11, 2001
- E15 Awakenings Core Feb 18, 2001
- E16 Gideon's Crossover Core Mar 11, 2001
- E17 What Child is This? Core Mar 18, 2001
- E18 The Confession Core Apr 1, 2001
- E19 Home of the Brave Core Apr 22, 2001
- E20 The Case of Harland Bassett Core Apr 29, 2001
- E21 Poor Richard's Almanac Mytharc May 6, 2001
- E22 Public Servants Mytharc May 13, 2001
Season 6 · 23 episodes
Open the complete Season 6 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Candidate (1) Mytharc Sep 23, 2001
- E2 The Candidate (2) Core Sep 23, 2001
- E3 Killing Time Core Sep 30, 2001
- E4 Liar's Poker Core Oct 7, 2001
- E5 Vanished (1) Core Oct 14, 2001
- E6 Vanished (2) Core Oct 21, 2001
- E7 Honor Code Core Nov 18, 2001
- E8 Suffer the Little Children Mytharc Nov 25, 2001
- E9 Dangerous Liaisons Core Dec 2, 2001
- E10 Inter Arma Silent Leges Core Dec 9, 2001
- E11 Eyewitness Core Jan 6, 2002
- E12 The Test Core Jan 13, 2002
- E13 Pro Se Core Feb 10, 2002
- E14 Judge Knot Core Feb 17, 2002
- E15 Man and Superman Core Feb 24, 2002
- E16 M. Premie Unplugged Core Mar 10, 2002
- E17 Manifest Necessity Core Mar 17, 2002
- E18 Fire Proof Core Apr 7, 2002
- E19 The Return of Joey Heric Core Apr 14, 2002
- E20 Eat and Run Core May 5, 2002
- E21 Evil-Doers Core May 12, 2002
- E22 This Pud's for You Mytharc May 19, 2002
- E23 The Verdict Mytharc May 19, 2002
Season 7 · 22 episodes
Open the complete Season 7 guide & lore primer →- E1 Privilege Mytharc Sep 29, 2002
- E2 Convictions Core Oct 6, 2002
- E3 Of Thee I Sing Core Oct 13, 2002
- E4 The Cradle Will Rock Core Oct 20, 2002
- E5 Neighboring Species Core Nov 3, 2002
- E6 The Telltale Nation Core Nov 10, 2002
- E7 Small Sacrifices Mytharc Nov 17, 2002
- E8 Bad to Worse Core Dec 1, 2002
- E9 The Good Fight Core Dec 8, 2002
- E10 Silent Partners Core Dec 15, 2002
- E11 Down The Hatch (1) Core Jan 27, 2003
- E12 Final Judgment (2) Mytharc Feb 3, 2003
- E13 Character Evidence Core Feb 10, 2003
- E14 The Making of a Trial Attorney Core Mar 3, 2003
- E15 Choirboys (1) Core Mar 10, 2003
- E16 Special Deliveries (2) Core Mar 24, 2003
- E17 Burnout Core Mar 24, 2003
- E18 Capitol Crimes Core Mar 31, 2003
- E19 Les Is More Core Apr 7, 2003
- E20 Heroes and Villians Core Apr 21, 2003
- E21 Baby Love (1) Mytharc May 5, 2003
- E22 Goodbye (2) Mytharc May 5, 2003
Season 8 · 22 episodes
Open the complete Season 8 guide & lore primer →- E1 We the People Mytharc Sep 28, 2003
- E2 The Chosen (1) Core Oct 5, 2003
- E3 Cause of Action (2) Core Oct 12, 2003
- E4 Blessed Are They (3) Core Oct 19, 2003
- E5 The Heat of Passion (1) Core Oct 26, 2003
- E6 The Lonely People (2) Core Nov 2, 2003
- E7 Rape Shield Mytharc Nov 9, 2003
- E8 Concealing Evidence Core Nov 23, 2003
- E9 Victims' Rights Core Nov 30, 2003
- E10 Equal Justice Core Dec 7, 2003
- E11 Police State Core Jan 11, 2004
- E12 Avenging Angels Core Jan 18, 2004
- E13 Going Home (1) Core Feb 15, 2004
- E14 Pre-Trial Blues (2) Core Feb 22, 2004
- E15 Mr. Shore Goes to Town (3) Core Mar 7, 2004
- E16 In Good Conscience (1) Core Mar 14, 2004
- E17 War of the Roses (2) Core Mar 21, 2004
- E18 The Case Against Alan Shore (3) Core Mar 28, 2004
- E19 The Firm Core Apr 18, 2004
- E20 Comings and Goings Core Apr 25, 2004
- E21 New Hoods on the Block Mytharc May 2, 2004
- E22 Cheers Mytharc May 16, 2004
Frequently asked questions
Is the show based on real cases?
No, but it draws inspiration from real legal issues and ethical dilemmas.
Who is the main character?
Bobby Donnell is the central figure, a defense attorney who runs the firm.
Does the show have a lot of courtroom scenes?
Yes, courtroom drama is a major component of the series.
Is the tone serious or light-hearted?
The tone is generally serious, dealing with weighty legal and moral issues.
How many seasons does it have?
The show ran for eight seasons on ABC from 1997 to 2004.
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