The Guardian - Episode Guide

Corporate Attorney, Nick Fallen has just been assigned to work community service hours in Children's Legal Services.

Nick decides to take legal action on an incident that is personal to him.

Nick works to help a prostitute and her 11-year-old handicapped son attempt to collect child support from his biological father.

Nick is asked to represent a 15 year-old girl who accuses her cop father of raping her.

Fallin and Associates take on a sexual harassment case while Nick works to get a homeless gay teen off the streets.

While Nick and co-workers are unwinding after work at a bar (although Nick is reviewing some papers), he is propositioned by an attractive young woman. What seems like an innocent tryst, however, could turn Nick's career upside down. Meanwhile, Nick's boss at Children's Legal Services must present his proposal to renew the annual contract for the non-profit agency, and this is the first year he has any competition. Will CLS receive the needed funding again this year?

Since Child Legal Services is now also assisting adults, Nick's first client is a mentally challenged young man whose mother is certain he's being taken advantage of by his neighbor, a drug dealer. However, there is not enough evidence for the court to decide the young man must move back home, until . . . something catastrophic happens. Meanwhile, Nick's friend at his dad's firm, Jake, is facing legal issues of his own, following a disturbing auto accident.

One of the most heart-wrenching episodes I have ever seen on TV; how surprising it's in the first half of the freshman season for this show. I love when writers name an episode, and it relates in more than one way, as we see in the simple word "Heart." First, Nick represents a 12-year-old ("going on 40") girl who needs a heart transplant. And Nick's father struggles with an almost ironclad contract he wrote 30 years ago, and watches while the terms are used against a good friend.

Barbara, the secretary at Legal Services of Pittsburgh, as well as Nick's co-worker/friend, needs his help. Her 16-year-old son is found with drugs in the vehicle he is driving, which leads to a tragedy. But her son won't divulge where he obtained the drugs, so he's facing hard times. Also, one of Fallin & Associates' clients is trying to sell his toy company, but the creator of a popular children's character doesn't want to give up his rights to the intellectual property. Also, Nick's African American friend, James, at Legal Services of Pittsburgh, is called upon to defend a Neo-Nazi whose landlord is trying to evict him on any possible cause, as the landlord is Jewish and is offended by the free paper his tenant publishes. James defends the man, but it also arouses his own feelings about the client's offensive beliefs.

Nick interviews Louise Archer for his father's firm, but she announces she's already accepted position elsewhere. Fallin and Associates loses a lawyer to a competitor, Kirk & McGee, who then proceeds to try to poach other staff from Fallin's firm. Nick is assigned to work on a case with a new staff member at Legal Services of Pittsburgh, which involves an Arab American shopkeeper who used a bat against a vandal who broke into his store. Nick's father marathons sweet-talking all his clients that might be leaving due to the staff upheaval. As always, surprises ensue.

Nick's first CLS case is now up for the lawsuit against the drug company, which Burton negotiates, as well as where Hunter will live. Alvin's ex-wife appears, asking for his help as she wants to bring a wrongful termination suit against her former employer, which she claims is retaliation for whistle-blowing. And, we learn for the first time, that Nick has been involved in an illicit affair with a married woman.

This episode begins on Friday night during a birthday celebration, and then we see the days leading up to the events of that night. Nick starts his new position at Kirk & McGee, but things are not going as well as he planned. He is assigned to represent a father/son business transaction, where he squares off with his own father at the negotiating table. At the new firm, Nick sees an unwelcome figure from his past. Alvin also faces his past during a mother's request to keep her young boy, and Lu makes a surprising discovery.

Nick and his father attend a funeral for a client's daughter, unsure if she was murdered for her trust money or not. Nick accidentally witnesses disturbing behavior by the decedent's sister, and many questions arise. Amanda dips her toes into pro bono work at Legal Services of Pittsburgh, and represents an older woman who claims her doctor is taking advantage of her financially; however, Amanda gets a surprise revelation during the hearing.

Nick's Aunt LIz and her son, Jeremy, come to ask for assistance as she negotiates a deal to sell her business, since she has been diagnosed with cancer. Nick learns his cousin's secret, and encourages him to admit his problem to Liz. Nick shares some words of wisdom with the teen, since Nick watched his mother fight cancer when he was about Jeremy's age. At LS/Pittsburgh, James Mooney has a new client from Thailand, who is supposedly looking for her uncle living in America.

Another gut wrenching episode from this company of writers. Lu represents a crack addicted woman recently out of rehab for a custody hearing, and has second thoughts about her client's ability to care for her children, so Nick is added to the defense team. The situation escalates to involve SWAT and a negotiator. At LS/Pittsburgh, James is asked to represent a 17-year-old young man who claims he did not consent to give up his parental rights for his girlfriend's baby. Burton asks Nick for a ride home after a surgical procedure on his eyes, but refuses to give specifics to Nick, except that he has had multiple operations.

A mother seeks Nick's help to block her 17-year-old son's request for emancipation. Turns out, while he can't take her case, she has information that can help in a Fallin & Associates union contract negotiation. We meet James' nephew, sister and grandmother when the teenager goes to his mother's aid and events turn tragic. And a former girlfriend of Nick's shows up to see how he's doing, and whether he has room for her in his life.

Interpersonal relationships between the main characters get strained in some ways, and deepened in others. Nick represents two brothers who don't want to be separated, but only one has an immediate adoption offer, which forces Nick and Lu to face each other in court. Jake helps his parents out when his father's personal and business debts threaten the family home, and Jake finally meets a mutually interested lady friend. Nick's NA sponsor challenges Nick about his commitment to his recovery.

Nick runs into an important person in both his and his father's lives, which may have a significant impact on both their futures. A woman asks for Nick's help, as a trust was set up for her young daughter who disappeared about 7 years ago, and she needs the trust money to save her home. Nick asks the detective who was on the case, and things get complicated from there. And Alvin and Laurie Solt, the social services worker, discover a mutual passion for helping juveniles who fall through the cracks when they need psychiatric evaluation and not just detention.

This episode has multiple subplots, and it appears Nick feels like his entire world is spinning out of control. (1) His parole officer threatens to report some technical violations to the judge, if Nick won't assist him with legal services while he tries to purchase and renovate a gentleman's club with his girlfriend, and the situation ends very badly for some parties involved. (2) A friend of a close friend asks Nick to bail him out of jail, but keep it all a secret. (3) Nick's father is being looked at for a federal judgeship, and Nick's legal problems could hinder this appointment, putting additional pressure on Nick. (4) At Legal Services, Nick represents a recent parolee whose ex-wife is trying to get his parental rights severed. (5) Lu personally invites Nick to her upcoming engagement party. (6) And, James' new guardianship with his nephew is already being challenged by the young man.

While visiting the house where Lu and Brian have placed an offer, Nick and the couple meet two homeless teens who need much help and guidance; Nick and Lu are assigned to represent these teens' interests in court. Nick's father divulges that he would like to leave the firm in Nick's hands, if he is appointed to the federal judgeship, and suggests Nick assist on of Burton's personal clients as a stepping stone, but it reveals to Nick some of his weaknesses. And Lu and Nick's friendship begins to move along a new path.

Burton surprises the firm with a new senior partner: a former senator, and his unscrupulous aide. Nick is advised he needs to drop one of his big clients, where there could be a conflict of interest with the senator, which is where the episode pulls its name from: "Chinese Wall." Lu is pulled into her grandmother's life when she falls in her nursing home and breaks a leg under questionable circumstances.

Alvin is concerned about James' use of boxing to discipline his nephew; James ask Nick to represent him regarding parenting classes. Dr. Reed visits Nick again, concerned about his son's trust. With a new managing partner at the firm, Nick discusses starting a new firm with some of his colleagues. Mandy Gressler shows up unexpectedly, and threatens to jeopardize Nick's probationary status. Alvin attempts to support Nick in a difficult situation, but Nick shuts him down. And we are left with a suspenseful cliffhanger for the first season.

While Nick awaits probation revocation in jail, his father begins some investigative work about his story. First, the hospital to find out about Mandy's health status, where he meets Shannon, Mandy's daughter. Then Burton speaks to the detective who has been trying to locate Mandy for a month. And he meets Mary, Shannon's grandmother, for the first time. He asks Mary if Shannon can testify for Nick, but Mary refuses. James interviews with Caldwell, Fallin's new managing partner. Jake continues to work on getting Nick's firm started. Lulu visits Nick in jail, partly to ask him about a case she had to take over for him.

(NO SPOILERS) Nick's first day back at LSP after his hearing is a very difficult one. A young man, about 13 years old, killed his mother. Ronnie seems to have a strange affect; disconnected, focused on concerns that are not super important. Nick also has a fender bender in the parking lot, which is an interesting first meeting of Kim. Also, James and Jake help Nick with the opening of their new law firm.

Nick sees an opportunity to get a former client at his new firm, and meets with the client at The Incline, the favorite watering hole for Burton's firm. The client is building a new property, and wants to build a road through a cemetery, which would require 15 graves to be relocated. Burton visits Mary at work, and finds out the reason Mandy hasn't been buried yet; Burton offers to help. The FBI puts pressure on some unscrupulous actions among major players. And a difficult issue from Burton's past arises during a current case, although he is on the verge of being sworn in as a judge. Kim and Nick continue their bedroom relationship.

An "angel of death" nurse at a hospital confesses to killing 19 cancer patients; James' grandmother may have been one of them. While visiting the hospital, he meets a young woman whose husband also may be a victim. At LSP, Nick is asked to represent a child who has been difficult to adopt, so he can go to an "adoption party." Lulu represents a pregnant teenager who has an at risk pregnancy and needs to find a new shelter, as she doesn't like to follow rules.

A raid on a Massage Parlor jeopardizes Alvin's job. Nick is appointed to represent a young boy who is having severe medical issues from lead exposure. Jake is pressed to the limit both personally and professionally as he tries to help a close friend. And we find out that Lulu's marriage is meeting neither her nor her husband's expectations.

Nick's father has him take over a client with many secrets and idiosyncrasies; Nick begins to question his own personal motives while he does his job. Is it to be successful, meet his father's expectations, or purely for the money? Does his corporate job allow the "human factor" to be relevant? Nick also helps a teen who needs a bone marrow transplant from his sister, but her location is unknown. And Lu confides to Nick the reason she's mad at him.

Nick and Jake help a family whose lives have been torn apart by cancer death of mother, and drug use by father. Fortunately, the children's godparents want to adopt them, and are a good home for them. However, it doesn't mean there aren't some large issues to overcome. Lulu is asked to help a man who was wrongfully imprisoned for decades as he tries to re-enter life outside prison and keep his marriage. And Nick and Lulu begin talking about her concerns about her marriage.

A close friend of Lulu's has a daughter go missing, and foul play is suspected. Nick's father tries to celebrate Nick's birthday with a surprise. And Nick is assigned a new case, then discovers he knows the client from his childhood days, and the client needs help to retain custody of his dog.

Another appropriate name for a powerful episode. James' nephew, Levi, is assaulted by his former gang members at his reform school, and is threatened with expulsion unless he gives the headmaster the names of the assailants. Alvin represents a former baseball idol in a personal property dispute; Nick's dad has another eye surgery that compromises his ability to work, so Nick must take over a large merger on short notice, while he's juggling assisting others in his life, also with major personal issues.

Lulu's husband comes under scrutiny by the hospital after a problem in the operating room, and it puts Nick and Lulu on opposite sides of the courtroom. Nick's father meets a client's beautiful daughter, and wants Nick to date her. And a young mother is pushed to the limit in her multi-generational home where illness has taken over family function.

A client Nick has been working with for a long time graduates high school, and Nick offers him a temporary job. The first day, he follows Nick to his various duties, and his life is changed forever. Nick also represents a family where the father is mentally altered due to Acquired Brain Injury. Burton makes a generous offer to Mary and Shannon, and the friendship deepens. And Lulu needs representation, and Nick offers to help.

Lulu has a stalker, and it's unclear who it is: repeat, silent phone calls, and a break-in while her husband is away. Burton gets a lead on picking up some of the city's legal matters, which can help the firm monetarily, but it conflicts with other duties at the law firm. Specifically, he sues a man to remove a nuisance aviary in his small back yard. And a mother who has been physically abused seems to feed her son with lies about his father, so he's afraid of him.

Nick gets a new client, and then finds out it's actually Lulu's mother, who is moving her business to Pittsburgh. She tries to entice Lulu away from her non-profit work and begin working with her as she builds her company in this new location. James represents a young man who has foster parents who want to adopt him, but the youngster is being enticed by a potential rap recording contract in New York. And a long time client of Burton's is wanting to expand his inherited business to a completely new business venture, and this encourages Burton to consider his "old fuddy duddy" ways.

At a benefit dinner for LSP, Jake meets a "model" woman who recently got custody of her son. They happened to have gone to the same local high school, and there is a mutual interest. Since Jake is spending time with her, he begins to question if she is really a fit mother. After Burton is rebuffed, he rethinks his relationship with Mary, and Nick witnesses her true side. Brian files a suit against the hospital for wrongful termination. Nick represents a transvestite man whose partner is now deceased, and is trying to keep custody of the young boy he's been raising as his own for several years now. Lulu bid on some law books of Burton's, but the box which is delivered is more of a personal nature, and she begins to see how Nick was raised.

A school friend of Nick's has a new product, and he's asking for the firm's assistance with a business plan, etc. Meanwhile, Lulu has a young boy who misses a lot of school. Nick has second thoughts about working with his friend, but his invention proves extremely effective at a crucial moment. James approaches his friend still at Fallin & Fallin, Jake, regarding an unscrupulous auto lending company for his latest client.

Barbara has some very exciting news, with invitations in hand for the entire office. Nick takes over a case for Lulu, where a terminally ill child has parents who disagree on the direction her care takes; Burton has a medical scare. And a factory in Burton's small hometown may have to close, which would devastate the community's economy.

This episode shows how the lives of the different people in the accident intersect. We see how the accident happened and the cause, the people involved, and how they are affected by the accident and subsequent consequences. Nick has the opportunity to show us his most vulnerable side. Both Barbara and her fiance get difficult news.

A young cop shoots Nick's former drug dealer while on duty, and Burton takes a hard line on the settlement after Nick removes himself from the case. Lulu's recovery goes well. A new probationary official visits Alvin's office to question Nick's hours reporting, since he also has a full time job. And Nick has to represent three of his former clients as they need to find new shelter when their facility shuts down.

A popular local boxer seeks assistance with a custody issue, and Burton, Nick and Lulu attend his first big fight together. Nick takes Lulu replacement car shopping. Lulu is concerned about a teenage cheerleader into some questionable behavior, and works with Jake to assist her family. And Lulu's mother testifies before a grand jury.

The new temp attorney at Fallin & Fallin has two unusual encounters with a client which cause concern for Burton. Lulu is representing a church in an eminent domain dispute, and Nick is representing the opposite side. A close friend from Burton's recent past needs his help. And the "police officer vs drug dealer" lawsuit ends differently than any one was expecting.

Burton's nephew, Jeremy, begins exhibiting very disturbing behavior, and it affects the entire extended family. Lulu and Nick host their first dinner party as a couple. Jake buys a cabin in the woods and is excited about fixing it up. Shannon has trouble adjusting to life in a new environment and without her grandmother.

Nick wants to diversify the firm with criminal law practice. Jake went to school with the best criminal defense lawyer in town, and Nick asks Jake to try to land him. Nick is assigned a client, Taliek, who was the victim of a brutal attack, and he's trying to get visitation rights. Nick and his father square off in a mock trial for credits toward continuing legal education (CLE). Lulu tells Nick she's going to interview for a great job in Berkeley, California. James realizes he may have made a tragic mistake about 6 months ago. We find out that Jake's relationship with Clay, the criminal defense attorney, may not be as friendly as we originally were led to believe. Nick tries to apologize to Shannon for humiliating her in front of several people.

Lulu travels to Berkley for a job interview, which could split up Nick and Lulu. Shannon's father shows up to seek custody. James confesses about his past behavior, and many people get hurt. Nick is court-ordered for anger counseling, but he's resistant. And a parking spot becomes the last straw for two frustrated men.

Nick fights to keep a small boy whose mother performs in a traveling carnival in DCF custody when he claims he was molested by the carnival owner.

Pressured to bring his own new business to the firm, Nick and Sadie Harper, Fallin & Fallin's new defense attorney associate, must get a town of 23 people to sign release settlements in order for Nick to land a huge coal manufacturer as a client.

Nick gets caught between father/son clients when the sale of their family department store becomes complicated with a class action lawsuit from several African American customers claiming discrimination.

Although a married couple wants Burton to sue a fertility clinic when their child is born black.

When Fallin & Fallin's credit line is called in, Nick tries to get a longtime Fallin client who owes millions to pay in full; Burton and Nick lose him to firm.

When Lulu's father decides to stay at her place, she and Nick agree they still have feelings for each other and agree to move in together.

As part of his community service, Nick is reassigned to help clean up an inner city park, where he meets a former LSP client he does not remember.

Lulu tells Nick she is pregnant, and he proposes to her.

When Fallin & Fallin evict squatters from land being used for future developments, the ripple effect at LSP is tremendous.

Nick and Suzanne Pell attempt to help Christopher, a client at LSP, after he is locked in a closet for disciplinary measures at a teen boot camp.

Nick must find a kid a home after his father, who was recently let go from Kane Industries, went crazy and shot his boss and several other coworkers in a conference room during a meeting.

After Lulu leaves Nick for having an affiar with Suzanne, Burton counsels Nick to seek help at rehab.

Alvin accuses Nick of rushing through the "steps" of working his recovery program.

Lulu informs Nick that their unborn baby has Downs Syndrome.

Nick attempts to help a teenage boy who beat up his mother after he walked in on her and his best friend in bed.

Nick helps a boy whose adoption is halted when the couple's own newborn baby is injured in the boy's presence.

When Burton is unable to physically help the police find Shannon, Nick takes his place and tracks her down through a prostitute, Dina, and her daughter Violet.

Alvin Masterson has a lot to do in so little time. He is getting married to Victoria Little and has ALS. Nick decides go to Los Angles.

Nick defends a sexually abused teenage boy who wants to protect his father from being implicated in the crime, even though it appears that his father was the abuser.

Nick and Jake battle wills when they try to get an elderly and sick client declared incompetent when his wife and partner disagree with the terms of a corporate sale.

Led by Jake, the firm's partners take a vote and kick Nick out of the partnership, despite Burton's attempts to keep his son's name on the door.

Having been forced from Fallin & Fallin, Nick takes another corporate law at a competing firm, but Burton questions if corporate law is truly Nick's passion.