Alan never walks away from a sticky case. However, when Renata Hill, (Megan Mullally, "Will and Grace"), runs up to Alan Shore (James Spader) in the courthouse, dress covered in blood, the bar is raised.
Alan starts defending Renata on murder charges. There are more than a few problems. Renata supposedly passed out while her fiance was stabbed with a pair of scissors. Unfortunately, only the two of them were in the room.
When the trial gets under way, Alan realizes there is more to his client's story. She never mentioned getting dumped by her fiance, for example. Seeds of suspicion start to form as Alan wonders what else Renata never told.
It's time for the truth. Renata says she saw who the real killer was. Alan is treated to a story of fantastical proportions. Years before, Renata bought another woman's identity for $300,000. Worse yet, she is practising law without a license.
Alan uses Clarence (Gary Anthony Williams) to find out if Renata is lying through her teeth. The story checks out to a point. When closing arguments take place, it is not the end of the story. ADA Christopher Palmer (William Russ, "Boy Meets World") says Renata is guilty as charged, case closed. Alan brings up the idea of another suspect, and has everybody watch the door to see the other person enter. When she doesn't, Alan tells the jury they have reasonable doubt. The ADA knows he must now plea bargain before the verdict returns in Alan's favor.
Renata is surprised when Alan agrees to twelve years in prison. When they are alone, she asks why. He says he knows she did it. Alan tells her he can walk out and talk to the press, but he would be disbarred as privilege is sacrosanct in law. However, he would do it anyway. She accepts the deal.
The ad for this episode said this was "heartstopping". Actually, another one ("The Verdict") showed clients are sometimes guilty even when acquitted. Even though Jeffrey Coho gave viewers a hint to the real killer early on, the truth only came out after Scott Little was found not guilty.
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