Louis Canning helps one of his clients stonewall Alicia in a multi-million dollar case, Clarke Hayden makes a move to oust Lockhart and Gardner, and Wendy Scott-Carr helps the Feds go after Eli Gold.
The firm steps in for a colleague in an athletic doping case after she is arrested, and an attack by Maddie Hayward creates a rift within Peter's campaign team.
Diane and Will offer Alicia a chance to become an equity partner, but do they have ulterior motives? Meanwhile, the firm battles an old enemy as they negotiate a valuable pre-nup, and religion becomes an issue in the gubernatorial campaign.
Alicia and Cary get bad news about their partnerships just as they are set to take on Diane and Will in a mock trial. Meanwhile, Elsbeth discovers that the Feds are playing dirty in their Eli Gold investigation.
Elsbeth takes the fight to A-USA Josh Perotti as she defends Eli Gold, Peter needs advice as he debates Maddie Hayward, and Alicia faces hard choices in her first role as equity partner.
Alicia suspects that another lawyer brought in by Lemond Bishop to help his case may be intimidating witnesses, Lockhart and Gardner argue over the firm's future, and the firm hires a new investigator--much to Kalinda's chagrin.
Will and Alicia clash with an insurance company lawyer at a coroner's inquest after a judge's death, Zack's new Muslim girlfriend could cause problems with Peter's campaign, and Cary brings in a big client with his father's help.
Peter has an important white-tie dinner, but Alicia is called away when a client is murdered, and the investigation suggests that her family may also be in danger. Meanwhile, Diane gets a job offer from Peter if he wins the election.
Alicia and Will try to get an extra "speedy" trial for Colin Sweeney to beat a Supreme Court ruling on third strikes. Meanwhile, Diane appears ready to take her on-again/off-again romance with Kurt McVeigh to a new level.
Alicia begins receiving help in a rape case from "anonymous" sources, Diane considers Peter's Supreme Court offer, and Cary tells Alicia that he's going out on his own with the fourth-year associates.
Alicia's case involving at-will employees trying to unionize sparks a possible mutiny at Lockhart Gardner. Meanwhile, Peter gives Alicia an opportunity to renew their wedding vows, but he also needs her help on the campaign.
On Election Day Eve, both gubernatorial campaigns fight in court over absentee vote tampering. Meanwhile, Cary runs into staff and client issues before starting up his new firm.
Alicia works on a Death Row appeal with Will and Diane before going off to start her own firm with Cary, but people begin to suspect something is afoot. Meanwhile, Peter searches for a Chief of Staff.
One of Lockhart Gardner's Internet clients takes on the NSA, Diane's nomination to the Supreme Court hits a snag, and Alicia's mom's "investment" could expose Alicia's imminent departure from the firm.
While Alicia defends a surrogate mother being forced to abort a baby, she also unwittingly gets thrust into the middle of a struggle by Will to get Diane removed from the firm.
As Diane prepares for big changes as she leaves the firm, the firm faces a politically-motivated sexual harassment suit. Meanwhile, Jackie makes trouble for the inauguration, and Alicia and Cary's departure from the firm is imminent.
When Will finds out that Alicia and Cary are leaving the firm, he fires them and sets out to destroy them before they can get their new firm off the ground.
Lockhart Gardner and Florrick Agos fight over clients and expert witnesses in a gun case, Diane loses her Illinois Supreme Court nomination, and Alicia faces ethics questions over her husband's actions.
Alicia and Cary suspect the old firm may be spying on them, and they turn to an old face for financial advice. Meanwhile, Alicia may be liable in a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Lockhart Gardner.
Alicia represents an illegal immigrant who faces certain death if he is deported, and Eli gets in trouble when he makes a policy decision for Peter based on his feelings for a woman.
Alicia and Cary go head-to-head with Will and Diane representing a client identified as a terrorist on a social website, Will hires a shady mob lawyer for his firm, and Jackie tries to block a Supreme Court nominee.