Series synopsis
Family Law is an American drama comedy crime television series that premiered on CBS on September 20, 1999. It ended on May 27, 2002. It was created by Anne Kenney, Paul Haggis. It stars Kathleen Quinlan, Christopher McDonald, Dixie Carter and Tony Danza.
Family attorney and mom, Lynn Holt, has had to scramble to keep her family and her law firm together, since her husband left her and took most of their joint law practice with him. Although the attorneys are carting plenty of life's baggage, they're all determined to make the most of this unexpected second chance—and make each month's mortgage payment.
Premise
Family attorney and mom, Lynn Holt, has had to scramble to keep her family and her law firm together, since her husband left her and took most of their joint law practice with him. Although the attorneys are carting plenty of life's baggage, they're all determined to make the most of this unexpected second chance—and make each month's mortgage payment.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Kathleen Quinlan as Lynn Holt
- Christopher McDonald as Rex Weller
- Dixie Carter as Randi King
- Tony Danza as Joe Celano
- Julie Warner as Danni Lipton
- Salli Richardson-Whitfield as Viveca Foster
- Cristián de la Fuente as Andres Diaz
- Meredith Eaton as Emily Resnick
Supporting cast
- Orla Brady as Naoise O'Neill
- Merrilee McCommas as Patricia Dumar
- Michelle Horn as Cassie Holt
- David Dorfman as Rupie Holt
- Samantha Smith as Cindy
- Carl Reiner as Al Lipton
- Earl Boen as Judge Samuel Martin
- Allan Miller as Judge Marlon Katz
- Clyde Kusatsu as Judge Paul Hamawaki
- Dan Lauria as Paul Celano
- Karen Valentine as Karen Anderson Bell
- Cara Buono as Carly Hanson
Guest cast
- Samantha Smith as Cindy
- Carl Reiner as Al Lipton
- Earl Boen as Judge Samuel Martin
- Allan Miller as Judge Marlon Katz
- Clyde Kusatsu as Judge Paul Hamawaki
- Dan Lauria as Paul Celano
- Karen Valentine as Karen Anderson Bell
- Cara Buono as Carly Hanson
- Victoria Dillard as Marcia Henderson
- Kiana Tom as Robin Unger
- Craig Sheffer as Martin Antenelli
- Pat Benatar as Anna Raines
Episodes
This series spans 3 seasons with 68 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 23 | September 20, 1999 | May 8, 2000 |
| Season 2 | 24 | October 2, 2000 | May 21, 2001 |
| Season 3 | 21 | September 24, 2001 | May 27, 2002 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pilot After losing her husband and clients all in one day, Attorney Lynn Holt sets out to rebuild her life. With some help from Danni Lipton, an ambitious almost junior partner, Lynn decides to rebuild her law practice by subleasing her offices to two other lawyers, Rex Weller and Randi King. Lynn's first new client is a former drug addict trying to win back custody of her children. |
September 20, 1999 |
| 2 |
Damages Lynn helps Rex represent a couple seeking damages against the doctor who neglected to tell them that their child would be born with Down Syndrome; Danni turns marriage counselor to a couple divorcing; Randi reveals a dark chapter in her past; Lynn sets out to show Michael how hard it is to juggle a career and parenting. |
September 27, 1999 |
| 3 |
All God's Creatures Lynn tries the case of a woman seeking custody of her children from their racist father; Danni hopes to rekindle the flames with her new client, who is also an old boyfriend; Rex represents a man injured by exploding beached whale blubber; Sweet memories abound when Lynn and Michael start dividing their property. |
October 4, 1999 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Choice Lynn is pitted against her old acquaintance, cutthroat lawyer Joe Celano, in a case involving a child's adopted parents and the Guatemalan woman he was taken from; Danni's reaction to Lynn's partnership offer unnerves Lynn. |
October 2, 2000 |
| 2 |
One Mistake Lynn is faced with a moral and legal dilemma when her client in a child custody case confesses to molesting his daughter; Randi tries the potentially ground-breaking case of a man suing his bartender for serving him drinks that led to his having a one-night stand which destroyed his marriage; the attorneys decide to expand their practices by forming a partnership. |
October 9, 2000 |
| 3 |
Affairs of State Lynn tries valiantly to help a dying friend obtain a divorce from her politician husband, who is trying to stall the proceedings because her death will give him the sympathy vote in the upcoming election; Lynn makes Joe a partner over Rex and Randi's objections, while the partnership decision regarding Danni comes to a head. |
October 16, 2000 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Irreparable Harm Lynn represents a cancer patient who wants to be able to receive experimental medication banned by the FDA; Raphael again pleads with Danni to adopt him; two new associates join the firm; and Joe's overextending himself working on pro bono cases has a tragic consequence. |
September 24, 2001 |
| 2 |
Moving On Randy and Emily represent a former drug addict who is trying to reclaim custody of the children she signed away; Danni continues in her quest to adopt Rapheal; Despite everyone's objections, Joe continues his pro bono work. |
October 1, 2001 |
| 3 |
Obligations Lynn and Viveca try to help a 14 year old girl who was arrested for spray painting hate messages on buildings; Emily represents parents who want to keep their cerebral palsy afflicted daughter out of public high school against her wish; Joe uses Naoise to help him do pro bono work. |
October 8, 2001 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | CBS |
|---|---|
| First aired | September 20, 1999 |
| Last aired | May 27, 2002 |
| Runtime | 60 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Monday at 22:00:00 |