Episode 1 of The Lincoln Lawyer's sophomore season kicks off with a heart-stopping scene: Mickey Haller, battered and bruised, lying battered in a dimly lit parking garage, a grim reminder of his troubled past with such locales. Recalling season 1, it's evident that the shadows of these lots hold more than just shadows for him. So, how did fate conspire to trap him in this predicament once again?
Rewind a few weeks prior to this harrowing night. Mickey basks in the glow of his newly acquired celebrity status as L.A.'s hottest commodity in the legal realm. His client's tragic demise has unexpectedly catapulted him into the public eye, making him the talk of the town. Interviews pour in from every direction, and his law firm soars to new heights.
Yet, amidst this triumphant backdrop, Lorna struggles to keep up with the whirlwind of activity. She reaches out to Mickey, detailing his jam-packed schedule for the day and introducing him to a fresh client, Russell Lawson, arrested on charges of burglary and indecent exposure. Russell, having heard tales of Mickey's prowess in the Trevor Elliot case, is eager to be represented by the best and promptly settles the legal fees.
As if that weren't enough, Lorna broaches the subject of returning the Jesús Menendez file to storage, but Mickey's instincts flare up. He fears a resurgence of charges from the prosecution, and so, he instructs her to keep the file at hand. Just as he hangs up, Maggie's voice fills the line, inquiring about their dinner plans. With a smile, he assures her of a reservation and promises to send the address via text.
Later, Izzy arrives to ferry him from one interview to the next, sharing a bit of her own news: she's been moonlighting as a dancer, even collaborating with her ex, Ray. Mickey's heart sinks slightly at the mention of Ray, but he masks his concern with a warning to be cautious, acknowledging Ray's transformation into a sober individual. The tension lingers as they make their way to court, the streets of L.A. buzzing with anticipation for what lies ahead in Mickey's latest legal battle.
Izzy tactfully suggests that perhaps his counsel should be heeded, as his recent surge in fame seems to have clouded his judgment. Mickey, however, counters passionately, insisting that one must seize the moment while it's hot, albeit vowing to maintain focus amidst the frenzy. Lorna's urgent call interrupts the conversation, her voice fraught with stress as she pleads for assistance at the office, overwhelmed by her workload.
Mickey, perplexed, inquires why Cisco cannot lend a hand, only to learn that Cisco is immersed in another case, much to Mickey's surprise. Unhesitatingly, Mickey offers to sweeten the deal for Izzy, proposing an increase in pay if she agrees to step in and assist Lorna. With that arrangement finalized, Lorna promptly texts Cisco, inquiring about his whereabouts.
Mickey's subsequent meeting with Russell, who remains detained at the police station, unravels a tale of financial expertise gone astray. On the fateful night of his arrest, Russell had planned to rendezvous with a friend, but the meeting was abruptly canceled. In a moment of solitude, he indulged in a few drinks before hailing an Uber. Memories of what followed are hazy, but he finds himself charged with felony burglary—a charge that threatens to imprison him for six years—after stumbling into the wrong house and passing out on a stranger's couch, having mistakenly believed it was his own.
As Mickey pieces together the puzzle, he realizes that Russell's misfortune stems from a simple case of mistaken identity, fueled by inebriation and unfamiliarity with his new neighborhood. He vows to take on the case, attempting to contact Cisco for support but finding himself unable to reach him.
Exiting the police station, Mickey's path crosses with Briggs, who delivers a somber update: tensions are high between the police and the DEA in light of the Menedez case's aftermath. The DEA has officially reopened the investigation, with Briggs assigned to the task. Mickey, determined to uncover the truth, tasks Briggs with tracking down the tattooed man, Glory Days, who has been identified as the perpetrator. The stakes are high, and the hunt for answers begins anew.
The enigmatic tattooed man has taken on an almost mythical aura, prompting Briggs to task Mickey with bringing Menedez into the fray the following day. Despite Mickey's reluctance to lead his client into the proverbial lion's lair, the duty looms heavy.
As the night deepens, Mickey finds solace in dinner with Maggie, though her spirits are dampened by the challenges of her nascent job. She fears her latest case may slip through her fingers, and as their conversation flows, Mickey's incessant buzzing phone from a persistent reporter becomes a source of amusement for Maggie, teasing him about his burgeoning celebrity status.
Their discourse drifts to Hayley's adjustment in her new school and Maggie's blossoming romance with a newcomer, evoking a hint of jealousy in Mickey. Yet, she gently reminds him of his own eligibility for romance, easing the tension. However, the tranquility of their meal is shattered when Mickey offers to fund Hayley's horseback riding aspirations, which Maggie interprets as a taunt of his newfound success, unleashing a storm of accusations about her own career setback.
Matters escalate further when a waiter, gratitude-laden for Mickey's fame, presents them with complimentary dishes. Maggie's anger boils over, and she storms off. Later, Lisa Trammell, the restaurant's charismatic chef and owner, interjects, checking on Mickey's satisfaction with the meal, and their encounter swiftly blossoms into an intimate interlude.
Meanwhile, Cisco weaves a web of lies to Lorna, who remains oblivious amidst her own whirlwind of work, law school studies, and wedding preparations. The next morning, over breakfast, Lisa confides in Mickey about her ongoing battle with Mitchell Bondurant, a developer hellbent on gentrifying their community. Mickey vows to enlist the aid of a real estate lawyer to assist her in her fight. As they exchange promises to reconnect later, Mickey departs.
Returning home, he finds Izzy, brimming with optimism about his dinner with Maggie, unaware of the tempest that raged. Mickey keeps silent about the true nature of the evening and they proceed to the office, where Cisco fills him in on the Menendez case's dead ends—the tattooed man and Glory Days remain elusive. When Mickey inquires about the Russell case, Cisco reveals his investigation's progress, including interviews with the Uber driver and photographs of the relevant residences, painting a more vivid picture of the case's intricacies.
Maggie's spirits dampened as she discovered her case had been hijacked. Desperate for guidance, she dialed her friend Andy's number. As the sun lazily traversed the sky, Lisa ventured into Mickey's office, her tone somber as she informed him of Bondurant's retaliatory restraining order. Bondurant's intentions were clear: to silence Lisa's voice against his corporation. Mickey's reassurance, offering his legal services, lifted Lisa's spirits, though she lamented her financial predicament, unable to compensate him immediately.
No sooner had Lisa departed than Lorna's inquisitive gaze turned towards Mickey, teasingly implying his pro-bono representation stemmed from a romantic entanglement with Lisa. Embarrassed, Mickey swiftly evaded the scene, instructing Lorna to prioritize a toxicology screening for Russell.
Elsewhere, Cisco reconnected with Kaz, freshly liberated from prison's confines. Andy's empathy for Maggie's plight was palpable, yet her hands were tied. She suggested a fresh start in private practice or a relocation, but Maggie hesitated, fearing abandoning her roots. Andy urged haste, emphasizing the need for a solution soon.
Mickey's encounter with Jesús and Briggs painted a bleak picture, with incriminating evidence hinting at Jesús' guilt in Martha's murder. The damning testimony of Jesús' former roommate, detailing a hunting knife akin to the murder weapon and witnessed disposal on the fateful night, threatened to unravel any semblance of innocence. Mickey's anger boiled over, chastising Jesús for deceit before abruptly ending the interrogation.
Vowing to unravel the truth, Mickey retreated to the solace of his daughter's company. Their heart-to-heart, centered on the present challenges, sparked a revelation. His daughter's wise words urged him to stay focused, to seize opportunities within reach. Inspired, Mickey devised a novel defense strategy, a masterstroke that led to the miraculous dismissal of Russell's case.
As the hearing draws to a close, Mickey's path unexpectedly crosses with Maggie's at the courthouse, where she confides in him about her case being poached, her voice tinged with regret. She extends a heartfelt apology for her conduct at the dinner, and he, with a gracious smile, assures her that her romantic endeavors hold no ill will with him, wishing her all the best.
Meanwhile, across town, Lorna embarks on her academic journey, tasked with completing a form for the esteemed Criminal Practice Clinic. Her mentor, Mickey, unfortunately, finds himself off the approved roster, necessitating a swift acquisition of the Academic Dean's signature by Friday's deadline. However, the mere mention of the Dean's name seems to evoke a sense of unease within her, prompting her hasty departure.
As she rushes out, a call from Cisco interrupts her thoughts, his voice laced with deception as he fabricates a tale of pursuing Glory Days, all while secretly escorting Kaz to a biker gang rendezvous.
As the day winds down, Mickey trudges towards home, his mind occupied, when Izzy's call pierces through the silence. She imparts news that Russell has made an appearance, depositing a hefty retainer of $5,000, leaving Mickey perplexed yet dismissive. Izzy's inquiry delves deeper, probing into the truth behind Mickey's falsehood about his night with Lisa, urging him to be candid.
Arriving home, Mickey's surprise escalates into shock upon finding Russell waiting for him within. In a shocking revelation, Russell unmasks himself as the tattooed killer of Martha, his cunning plan to hire Mickey as his legal shield, exploiting the veil of confidentiality. Mickey finds himself trapped in a predicament, caught between duty and ethics. Betraying Russell risks disbarment, yet defending Jesús is hindered by a conflict of interest. Moreover, Russell's subtle threats to his loved ones weigh heavily on Mickey's conscience, leaving him to navigate a treacherous tightrope.
