Characters / Boston Legal

Main Characters

Alan Shore (James Spader)

For tropes pertaining to Alan Shore's characterization in the eighth season of The Practice, click here.

• Amoral Attorney: Inverted. He's more than happy, eager even, to bend or break legal ethics to uphold his own moral ones.
• Broken Ace: He's gradually revealed to be a broken man filled with sexual repression and self-loathing.
• Bunny-Ears Lawyer: He provided the former page picture because he really does wear bunny ears in court. It's a small quirk to overlook for his ability as a lawyer.
• Chewbacca Defense: His primary ability is to turn the courtroom into his personal soapbox so he can manipulate and shape the issue at hand any way he wants.
• Crusading Lawyer: He takes plenty of cases just because he feels strongly about an issue. It's one of the few traits that carried over completely from The Practice.

• Limited Advancement Opportunities: It's pointed out several times that he is permanently stuck in his position as an associate at Crane, Poole & Schmidt due to his complete refusal to play by corporate rules, but he's simply too good and valuable as a trump card to fire him.
  • Also, it's made clear he doesn't really want to advance to junior partner, then eventually senior partner, as he won't do the schmoozing and client-farming required by those positions. He's also extremely well-paid, even straight-up telling people that he's rich. (He spends the entire series living in a five-star hotel close to the firm because buying a house is too much trouble) Finally, the only two people who can fire him (Denny and Shirley) simply won't do it.
• The Lost Lenore: His wife passed away just as he was deliberating over getting rid of her. Since then, he drowns his loneliness and grief in a parade of comely paralegals.

• Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness: Combined with his Motor Mouth tendencies, Alan is a formidable courtroom opponent and his closings could give Clarence Darrow a run for his money.
• The Only One: He's the go-to man when it comes to impossible cases, since his originality may be the thing to save the day. Also, a lot of such cases are so fucked that there's nothing he can do to screw it up even more.
• "Well Done, Son" Guy: His father was never proud of him, as he admits to Denny.
• What the Hell, Hero?: Often subjected to other characters criticizing him, particularly in the early episodes.
• Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: Alan is absolutely terrified of clowns.

Denny Crane (William Shatner)

• Bunny-Ears Lawyer: His eccentricities and ego are tolerated because he really is as good as he believes he is.
• Cloud Cuckoolander: He's usually on a different plane than everyone else.
• Cool Old Guy: As is standard for any character played by William Shatner.
• Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: Whenever he puts his mind to it, Denny Crane's an absolute beast of an attorney.
• Dirty Old Man: Constantly makes sexual remarks and puts the moves on just about any woman who crosses his path.
• Flanderization: As the show went on to become more comedic, his Cloud Cuckoolander tendencies were magnified.

• Hidden Depths: He can be surprisingly insightful and emotional when caught in a quiet moment.
• Hypocritical Humor: He claims to have never lost a case, and frequently proclaims "Still undefeated!" after a win. However, he has been shown to lose several cases, though he purposefully takes second chair on cases that he thinks might be losses so that he can claim that it was the first chair attorney, not himself, who earned the loss. Despite that, he still claims the victory on cases won with himself as second chair.
• Insufferable Genius: He's brilliant, knows it and wants to make sure everyone else knows it too.

• Large Ham: It's William Shatner. Of course he's this.
• The Not-Love Interest: For Alan, to the degree that, when Denny decides he wants Alan to inherit his estate when he dies, they get married to seal the deal.
• Obfuscating Stupidity: Depending on the writer if he was either completely out of his mind or just pretending out of both a sense of whimsy and a genuine belief that if he does, then when he really is past the point of no return, neither he nor anyone else will notice.
• Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: If you're a scumbag with AIDS who raped and murdered a little girl, Denny doesn't give a fuck about attorney/client privilege or any of that other crap. He'll proceed straight to shooting you in your kneecaps and suggest you get another attorney while you're lying on the floor writhing in pain.
• Showy Invincible Hero: "Still undefeated!" Denny has an enormous ego and isn't afraid to show it, but his insane behavior in court only makes it more fun.
• Straw Character: Denny Crane is a strawman political caricature of a conservative gun nut, although this did allow him to save the day a few times. Keeping guns in your office seems less crazy when you just used them to shoot the man about to kill your best friend.

• Ultimate Job Security: You can't get rid of a named Partner.
• Unusual Euphemism: Played for drama. He's in early stage Alzheimer, but refers to it as "Mad Cow" to take some of the edge of it. Alan is well aware and goes along as a show of kindness towards his friend.
• "Well Done, Son" Guy: He became a lawyer because of his father, only to be disowned for pulling the Courtroom Antics his dad disapproved of to save a client.
• The Wonka: He's named Partner, so he can't be fired regardless of how strange he acts.

Shirley Schmidt (Candice Bergen)

• Alliterative Name: Shirley Schmidt.
• Aroused by Their Voice: Shirley gets Denny aroused just by whispering his name.
• Bait-and-Switch Tyrant: "Nice to meet you. You're fired."

• The One That Got Away: For Denny. He "falls in love" at least thrice over the course of the series, but he regards her as "the one." She's also pretty much the only woman he may act tenderly towards.
• Straight Man

Brad Chase (Mark Valley)

• Informed Ability: Much talk is made of his being a Marine with considerable combat training, but it's never shown. During his fight with Coho, it consists of the two of them throwing clumsy, well-telegraphed punches at each other. He doesn't display any of the fighting skills that would be expected of a former Marine.
• Modern Major General: His combat training, due to being a former Marine.

Paul Lewiston (René Auberjonois)

• Benevolent Boss: He can be, but he can also be a Bait-and-Switch Tyrant.
• The Bus Came Back: It never really left. He just moved to a position in the firm where he dealt less with the named partners when Carl transferred to Boston to act as Denny's handler. Paul seems to be happy about this when we see him next, and it's implied that he was burnt out from having to put out all the fires Denny started.

• Face–Heel Turn: He arranges for the merger with the Chinese in the series finale.
• Heel–Face Revolving Door: When first introduced, he was clearly an antagonistic character, a foil for Alan and Denny both. He was not in any way sympathetic, and seemed to hate Denny so much that he was willing to hurt the firm to bring Denny down. Later he softened, became more sympathetic and took the role of Only Sane Man as well as a bit of Butt-Monkey.
• Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: His final scene implies that he's aware that he didn't really save Crane, Poole & Schmidt.

• Put on a Bus: He's advanced to more administrative duties, no longer simply to keep the atmosphere sane.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: Mostly. Unless Denny or Alan push too many buttons.

Lori Colson (Monica Potter)

• Foil: To Alan in the first season. She's a woman and she's also deeply morally disturbed—contrary to Alan, who is mostly fine with everything illegal and amoral he does.

• Put on a Bus: It's implied she's quietly swept out of the firm by Shirley after she refuses to back down on filing a sexual harassment case against Denny.

Tara Wilson (Rhona Mitra)

• Hello, Attorney!: Described by Lori in the first episode as "nasty hot."
• Put on a Bus: She leaves for England when she decides Alan will never commit to her.

Sally Heep (Lake Bell)

• The Bus Came Back: She later returns with a very ruthless personality.

• Put on a Bus: Fired by Shirley for not being good enough.

Garrett Wells (Justin Mentell)

• Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: One of the truest examples on the show. His absence is never explained.

Sara Holt (Ryan Michelle Bathe)

• Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Along with Garrett, her absence is never explained.

Denise Bauer (Julie Bowen)

• All for Nothing: After several episodes competing with Marlene for a spot as partner at the firm, she discovers Marlene was hired specifically to get the spot- and that her unprofessional behaviour while feuding reduced her chances to get a spot of her own.

• Put on a Bus: After season 3, departing with Brad.
• Slapstick: Engages in it occasionally, most notably during the chase scenes with Marlene.

Jerry Espenson (Christian Clemenson)

• Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Jerry is an excellent attorney in spite-or because-of his Asperger's.

• Morality Pet: Alan is consistently kind and straightforward with him, and goes to bat for him more than once.

• Security Blanket: He has a wooden cigarette that he fidgets with when he needs to use up excess nervous energy (like when making a statement in court). He'll even take a puff, as if it were a real cigarette, when needs a major confidence boost. Denny once tempted him to turn on Alan by offering him a wooden cigar.
• Took a Level in Jerkass: Anytime he has a fake cigarette/cigar/pipe in his mouth.
  • Goes from a meek, awkward associate to holding Shirley hostage in "The Cancer Man Can".
• Vitriolic Best Buds: Becomes this with Clarence

Jeffrey Coho (Craig Bierko)

• Love Triangle: He and Brad both slept with Denise.
• Put on a Bus: Leaves the firm once Denise chooses Brad.
• Suspiciously Similar Substitute: To both Brad and Alan.

Claire Simms (Constance Zimmer)

• Brutal Honesty: With everyone, all the time, always.

• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: She's cold and has all the tact of a brick to the head, but she's not a bad person.

Clarence Bell (Gary Anthony Williams)

• Extreme Doormat: His actual personality. He developed Clarice, Clavont, and the others as a way of being able to become someone else that didn't have his crippling shyness.
• Grew a Spine: Starts off unable to be himself around others, using his invented personas, and refuses to even try to practice law. By the time he leaves the show, he has more than once defended a client in court and has developed the ability to stand up for himself.
• Morality Pet: Claire genuinely likes him and tries to help him become more assertive and confident.
• Sassy Black Woman: As Clarice and Oprah.
• Split Personality: Clarice, Clavont, and Oprah.

Lorraine Weller (Saffron Burrows)

• Hello, Attorney!: She is very attractive.

Whitney Rome (Taraji P. Henson)

• Suspiciously Similar Substitute: Seems to be added to the show after Chelina didn't end up becoming a regular.

Carl Sack (John Larroquette)

• Meaningful Name: He's a bit of a sad "sack".

• Suspiciously Similar Substitute: For Paul.

Katie Lloyd (Tara Summers)

• Just Friends: With Jerry.
  • Last-Minute Hookup: With Jerry.

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CP&S Staff and Notable Clients

Catherine Piper (Betty White)

An elderly woman with an antagonistic history with Alan Shore, who was hired by Alan as an assistant in the later parts of Season 1 and early season 2.

• Ascended Extra: Went from a guest star who appears in 3 episodes on The Practice to a recurring character who appears in 16 here.
• The Cameo: Has a silent cameo in “Fine Young Cannibal” in season 3 as Alan’s boxing “manager”.
• Character Development: Although they started off the series (and on The Practice) disliking each other, she and Alan end up developing a friendship by the end of the series, with Alan even stating that he cared for her.
• Cranky Neighbor: Was one to Alan when he was growing up- though it was justified as she was the target of some of his schoolboy pranks, which she wouldn’t let him forget about once he became a lawyer.
• Elder Employee: To Alan as his secretary/ assistant.
• Everyone Has Standards: Tried to help Bernard repent for killing two people, and despite her Jerkass and sometimes aggressive behaviour, even she was horrified with his newfound bloodlust and talk of wanting to become a serial killer.
• Never Mess with Granny: Has quite a body count by the end of the series, having assaulted multiple people and even killed someone.
• Screw Politeness, I'm a Senior!: Will speak her mind and nobody is safe, not even Alan and the Senior Partners.
• When Elders Attack: First with a skillet, before upgrading in season 5 to an explosive.

Bernard Ferrion (Leslie Jordan)

A sweet old man who becomes progressively less sweet the more he appears. He initially appears as a client of Alan, accused of killing his mother, before befriending Alan’s assistant, Catherine.

• Affably Evil: Becomes this by “Schadenfreude”, casually discussing with Catherine how he wants to kill more people.
• Arc Villain: To Catherine and Alan in late season 1 and early season 2, when he has a Start of Darkness.
• Evil Old Folks: Starts considering becoming a notorious serial killer.
• From Nobody to Nightmare: This is what he shows signs of wanting to move into, and the reason Catherine took him out with a frying pan before he could actually carry it out. Wanting to become as infamous and notorious as the BTK Killer was becoming a goal for him. A lifetime of being under his mother's thumb and never having a chance to live his own life led to a lot of pent-up aggression.
• Karmic Death: Killed by the same skillet he killed 2 others with.
• Killed Off for Real: In “Schadenfreude”.
• Matricide: His first victim.
• Off on a Technicality: How he initially got away with 2 murders.

Marlene Stanger (Parker Posey)

An ambitious lawyer who is hired by the firm in late season 2.

• Arch-Enemy: Becomes this to Denise.
• Ice Queen: Rarely shows any emotion, which is why she has previously gained the reputation for not making many friends at her previous firms.
• In-Series Nickname: “The Squid”.
• Put on a Bus: In the season 3 premiere.

Notable Judges

Hon. Clark Brown (Henry Gibson)

Judge Brown is a regular on Boston’s legal circuit, and the judge depicted as hearing the most cases on the show.

• Catchphrase: “Outrageous!”, with more synonyms thrown in depending on the ridiculousness of the cases Crane, Poole and Schmidt bring him.
• Gay Conservative: His personal beliefs often contrast with Alan’s, and his financial troubles with a gay treatment centre become known to Alan in Season 3.
  • As conservative as he may behave, he's actually responsible for some of the most politically left wing decisions that the judges on this show make.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: Tends to ignore his own personal opinions and rule based on the letter of the law.
• Stern Old Judge: Of all the judges who appears on the show, he fits the archetype best. Which make his reactions to Crane, Poole & Schmidt’s antics all the more amusing to watch.

Hon. Harvey Cooper (Anthony Heald)

Hailing from Concord, Massachusetts, this no-nonsense judge has occasional dealings with Crane, Poole & Schmidt.

• Death Glare: Loves giving them to lawyers he feels is wasting the court’s time.
• Expy: Also played a Judge Cooper with the first name “Wallace” in The Practice, but both act very similarly.
• Ham-to-Ham Combat: With Judge Clark in “Patriot Acts”.
• Verbal Tic: He over enunciates the word “Massachusetts”, and he loves saying it. A lot.

Hon. Robert Sanders (Shelley Berman)

An elderly judge who sometimes has trouble keeping up with the complex cases put to him.

• Altar the Speed: When Brad (and Denise) choose to get married just before she gives birth, Judge Sanders is the one judge present in the hospital who is available to adjudicate the wedding.
• Catchphrase: “I am the decider!”, and when befuddled but something he’ll resort to calling it “poopycock”.
• Cloud Cuckoolander: He doesn’t seem all there during most of the cases he hears.
• Establishing Character Moment: His first appearance sees him telling Alan to leave his sense of humour at the door and not bother him with “jibber-jabber” before choking on his water, establishing him as The Comically Serious.
• Scatterbrained Senior: Increasingly as the series goes on.
• Stern Old Judge: Does not like Alan’s frequent habit of going on tangents during court cases, often calling it “jibber-jabber”.