Emmy Award winners James Spader and William Shatner play Alan Shore and Denny Crane, unlikely kindred spirits among the brigade of high-priced litigators at Crane, Poole and Schmidt. In addition, one of the founding law partners, Shirley Schmidt (played by five-time Emmy winner Candice Bergen), has been coaxed back to the Boston law firm to help bring order to the chaotic office. She keeps a vigilant eye on all, particularly Denny Crane – with whom she has a checkered history.
The firm's other attorneys include Brad Chase (played by Mark Valley), an ex-Marine, who often finds himself in a test of wills with Alan Shore; and Paul Lewiston (played by Rene Auberjonois), the "lawyer's lawyer" who continually tries to save Crane from himself.