Mickey Haller, a skilled criminal defense attorney, operates his practice from his black Lincoln Town Car, which he uses as his mobile office as he navigates the complex and often treacherous legal landscape of Los Angeles County. His day-to-day work involves defending a variety of clients, including minor criminals and more dangerous individuals like Eddie Vogel, a biker gang leader. Haller is both smooth and ruthless, willing to extend legal strategies that are sometimes questionable, such as prolonging the incarceration of Harold Casey because Harold refuses to pay his legal fees. Haller's resourcefulness and tactics often involve cunning maneuvers, like persuading the judge to postpone hearings by claiming key witnesses are hard to locate, thus keeping his clients behind bars longer.
In a pivotal case, Haller takes on the defense of Louis Roulet, a charming and wealthy Beverly Hills playboy, portrayed by Ryan Phillippe. Roulet is accused of brutally attacking Reggie Campo, a prostitute, and the case quickly becomes a media sensation. The dispute over bail makes the stakes even higher, with Roulet’s family, represented by lawyer Cecil Dobbs, pushing for his release. Despite the severity of the crime, Judge's decision to allow Roulet's release under ankle monitoring sets the stage for a tense courtroom drama. Haller is hired with a hefty fee—$100,000 upfront, $550 per hour, and an additional amount if the case proceeds to trial—showing how lucrative but demanding legal battles can be.
Haller has a complex personal life, including his ex-wife, Maggie (Marisa Tomei), who is now prosecuting the Roulet case. She demands no-bail for Roulet due to the evidence, but the court’s decision was different, releasing him under restrictions. From the outset, Roulet insists on a speedy trial, claiming that he was merely at the wrong place at the wrong time. According to his account, he was approached by Reggie at a bar, left her address, and then entered her apartment after she opened the door. Roulet asserts that the victim attacked him first, and that he was later assaulted by a couple from across the hall. Reggie, however, describes a much more violent confrontation, asserting that Roulet broke into her home and assaulted her, with evidence such as his prints on a knife and his hit with a vodka bottle during the struggle.
Haller and his investigator, Frank Levin (William H. Macy), scrutinize the evidence, especially the injuries sustained by Reggie, which resemble those from a prior case involving Jesus Martinez. Haller’s internal conflict intensifies as he begins to suspect that Roulet might be guilty of a different, more sinister crime: the murder of Donna Renteria, for which Martinez was convicted. Haller, bound by attorney-client privilege, cannot disclose what he indirectly learns during his consultations, but he instructs Levin to investigate Roulet further.
As Haller digs deeper, he notices unsettling parallels between the cases and begins to question the integrity of his client. When he visits Martinez at San Quentin, the convicted man becomes visibly agitated, and Haller suspects that Roulet might be the actual murderer. Roulet, aware of Haller’s suspicions, unexpectedly visits him at his home, confessing to the murder of Martinez's victim and revealing that his motive was to manipulate Haller into silence, given the confidentiality rules. Roulet’s confession includes a veiled threat against Haller’s daughter, Hayley.
Things take a dark turn when Frank Levin is mysteriously shot after leaving a voicemail suggesting he had uncovered Martinez’s wrongful imprisonment. Investigators discover Levin’s murder weapon, a .22 caliber pistol, is registered to Haller, and his own handgun goes missing from his house. Haller believes Roulet stole the weapon and may be behind Levin’s murder, intensifying his sense of vulnerability.
Facing mounting pressure, Haller employs aggressive defense tactics, cross-examining Reggie to undermine her credibility, though he also prepares for the worst. To gather more solid evidence, he secretly hires a known prison informant, Dwayne Jeffrey “DJ” Corliss, who provides testimony that ultimately leads to the charges being dropped against Roulet for Reggie’s attack. However, this maneuver results in Roulet being arrested for a different murder, one planning to eliminate Haller’s family. Roulet’s attempt to harm Haller’s wife and daughter is thwarted just in time, thanks to Haller’s quick thinking and support from some of his former clients, including bikers he previously represented.
In a shocking climax, Roulet’s mother, Mary Windsor (Frances Fisher), admits to killing Levin to protect her son. She then fatally wounds Haller with the same Colt Woodsman pistol. In a desperate act of self-defense, Haller fights back, shooting and killing Mary. The case takes another turn when evidence from a parking ticket links Roulet to a previous victim, providing crucial leverage in the ongoing trial.
After healing from his injuries, Haller learns that Jesus Martinez has been released, and the district attorney is now prepared to seek the death penalty against Roulet. Despite the personal risks, Haller continues his mission, even helping the bikers on a pro bono basis for their past support. His relentless pursuit of justice underscores his complex moral code—tough, sometimes ruthless, but dedicated to uncovering the truth, no matter how dark or dangerous it becomes.
