Rafferty's Rules

Flicker's prosecution against a young policeman who has broken the law is complicated when he begins to recognise that something even more suspicious is going on.

Michael's world is turned upside down after learning that he has a twenty-two year old daughter from a previous relationship.

Lisa defends a young man who seems to be heading for the same life of crime as his father once did, but she refuses to believe Ray Brown's claims that the father's intentions are anything but honourable.

The entire courthouse struggles to cope when Michael is forced to decide whether a man accused of murder has a case to answer.

Lisa begins to wonder whether evil does exist when she defends a sociopath.

Lisa continues to have problems settling in, with her abrasive nature putting Michael offside.

A journalist sets out to prove that corruption exists in Rafferty's court.

New Legal Aid solicitor Lisa Blake starts work at the courthouse; however, she soon finds herself coming into conflict with Michael when she grandstands in the courtroom, then fails to fully prepare a case in mitigation for a defendant.

An unexpected tragedy forces Paulyne to re-evaluate her life; meanwhile she struggles to remain objective while defending a man accused of manslaughter over the death of a pedestrian.

Michael's hopes of reuniting with his estranged wife are dashed when Joanne reveals that she has come to visit to end their relationship, and then their son falls ill.

The Bard comes into the courtroom when an elderly man reciting Shakespeare is arrested for busking without a licence.

Rafferty's 6-year-old son goes missing.

The personal and the professional converge for Flicker when the anti-nuclear group his son is involved in begins protesting the arrival of nuclear warships.

A heatwave frays tempers at the courthouse when everyone arrives at work to find the air-conditioning broken.

Michael takes responsibility for a foreign woman after she shows up on his doorstep.

The courthouse finds itself becoming caught up in the deadly web of a cult. Michael is shocked when he goes on an early morning run and discovers the body of a young woman washed up on the beach.

Rafferty is confronted with the limitations of the law when it comes to dispensing justice.

Michael, Paulyne and Gibson find their ethics challenged when they deal with a man accused of raping his wife; however, it soon becomes apparent to all that the case is far more sinister than they ever could have imagined.

Paulyne accuses an insurance company of racism when they report a Lebanese man to the police after he claims his precious rings were stolen just days after taking out a policy.

Pauline finds that her personal life is mirroring her professional life when her former lover Gavin reappears and announces that he is getting married, just as she is defending a woman who refuses to accept that her marriage is over.

A series of sexual assaults has consequences for the courthouse when the police fit up suspects and Paulyne is attacked in her own home.

Gibson faces his past after a series of alcohol-related prosecutions force him to confront the reasons he gave up drinking.

The courthouse becomes the centre of the fallout from a Secret Intelligence Agency training exercise.

Fulvio learns that his teacher and idol isn't quite the perfect magistrate that he thought after he takes over when Michael falls ill.

Michael is caught between a rock and a hard place when he is forced to decide the fate of a young boy whose doctors believe is sick, but whose parents are refusing further tests on religious grounds.

Michael wrestles with the concept of possession after the discovery of Aboriginal remains creates a conflict of ownership between the state and the Indigenous community.

Rafferty is confronted by a case involving vandalism on a building site.

Rafferty's court is thrown into turmoil by a mysterious thief in Rafferty's office.

There is an uneasy atmosphere around Rafferty's court when Flicker returns.

Rafferty confronts painful parallels at home when his kids arrive out of the blue.

Double standards are apparent in a case that comes before Rafferty.

Flicker's replacement finds he has to play it by Rafferty's rules.

Work pressures get to much for Paulyne and a love affair seems the answer.

Rafferty investigates what appears to be an accidental death by drowning.

An Italian father and his brother plant a bomb in Rafferty's chambers.

A young prostitute decides to defend herself against a soliciting charge.

Rafferty hears two cases about people's desire to look good.

Rafferty has no choice but to dismiss a big drug case.

Rafferty feels alone with his recent move to the city.

Rafferty is forced to examine his attitude towards women.

Rafferty is angry when a drugs case he was listed to deal with is suddenly moved to another court and confronts the Chief Magistrate about the matter.

Rafferty deals with a young prostitute and U.S. government officials apply to extradite one of their citizens.

Rafferty's estranged wife Joanne arrives in Sydney to discuss a few things and he is anxious. Meanwhile, Paulyne has a crisis of conscience when she has to act for a man in an assault case.

Michael Aloysius Rafferty starts his new job as Stipendiary Magistrate of Manly Local Court.