Premise: A spin-off of the ABC series "The Practice." In an episode from that series' final season, James Spader's character, Alan Shore was fired from the firm and decides to work for the high-priced world of civil law, where the new series is set. 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. Joining Shore and Crane is Brad Chase, a consumate guy's guy, who recently headed up the Washington, DC office and has been recruited to Boston to keep an eye on loose cannon senior partner Denny Crane. He also finds himself in an unending test of wills with fellow attorney Alan Shore. Fast-paced and darkly comedic, the series will confront social and moral issues, and the pursuit of happiness and money, with varying degrees of priority.