Sent to prison due to the incompetence of a silk-stocking law firm dabbling in Pro Bono work solely for the PR benefit, Johnny Giles graduates law school on-line, obtains the reversal of his own conviction, and confronts the firm and lawyers that screwed up his case. He doesn’t want money to keep him quiet and compensate him for their incompetence. He wants a job—as a lawyer—with the firm that sent him to prison. A firm that doesn’t want him.

SYNOPSIS:

Prison inmate, Johnny “Esquire” Giles, gets some critical news from a lab, while huge inmate Randall asks him for legal advice. Johnny lets Randall know that the only thing not "right" with Randall's case would be if Randall is ever released from prison, then leaves to “represent” another inmate in one last disagreement in the prison yard "court" regarding a bet and an owed box of cigarettes, then announces to the guys that his DNA tests have proven him innocent, and he’ll be leaving the prison.

Upon his release, with his on-line law degree in hand, Johnny goes directly to the swanky LA law firm whose "pro bono" project represented him originally, and lost his case. Johnny asks the firm to pay for his bar review course and the fee to take the bar exam.

Hal Braun, head of the firm, is stunned but even more so when Johnny tells him what he wants for the firm's malpractice handling his case: he wants a job after he passes the test.

Hal openly doubts Johnny’s capability and intellect. But, when Johnny exposes the facts that the head of the "pro bono" project, Donald, missed, in Johnny’s case and others, Hal fires Donald on the spot and agrees to Johnny’s demands.

Much to his surprise, Johnny passes the bar and shows up for work. Unwanted but with leverage over the firm. They put Johnny on the pro-bono team under the leadership of firm co-head, the very aware and sage Solomon “Saul” Clarke.

Saul gives Johnny the lead on a case—defending a girl, Courtney Grossbart on drug possession charges. Meanwhile, he learns the ropes from team members Nate, Rhona and the firm beauty, Madison.

Bradley Corbin, an older, more established team member, tries to take over the case, discussing a plea bargain with the ADA all on his own, trying to cut Johnny out. Instead, Johnny enters a motion to test the cocaine vial found in Courtney's bag at the nightclub.

The ADA agrees to drop the case against Courtney when Courtney’s brother Philip’s prints are found on the vile. Johnny and Bradley confront the very slippery Philip on his actions and he walks out in a disgruntled huff.

Rhona takes Johnny out for a drink to celebrate his case victory, even though she is in a relationship with Bradley. Bradley shows up at the bar with client Courtney to celebrate, but the festivities are cut short when Madison calls Johnny to tell him she just shot her ex-boyfriend. Johnny flies to Madison’s rescue.

Did Madison shoot her ex? Or is she protecting someone else? Perhaps her secret, inappropriate, romantic liaison, the married head of the firm.

And can Johnny survive in a firm that doesn't want him? He's a mutt in a building full of pedigrees.

ESQ. | PILOT