Alicia returns to work as a defense attorney after her husband's corruption scandal and incarceration. She is assigned her first case - a retrial of a woman accused of murdering her ex-husband. Her firm successfully deadlocked the first jury, and they hope that sticking to that strategy will work again, but Alicia realizes that this trial will be more of a fight than anyone expected.

After the State's Attorney refuses to pursue criminal charges, Alicia becomes second chair on a civil suit involving the rape of a prostitute at a bachelor party who may have been hired and abused by her own husband.

Alicia learns more about Peter's fall from office when she represents Glenn Child's wife, Carla Browning, in her divorce appeal. Meanwhile, Will and Emily, an opposing counsel, get cozy during a death suit against Duke Roscoe, a caustic TV commentator.

Alicia and the kids have to deal with some really bad news; Peter learns some new information that makes him furious. Meanwhile, Alicia has to represent the doctor who prescribed medication to a high school quarterback, who appeared to die from a painkiller overdose.

Tensions are high as Peter's appeal begins while Alicia has to defend a wealthy client who doesn't seem that innocent, even after he's found not guilty of murdering his wife. Meanwhile, Diane takes precautions when a prisoner she put in jail is to be released from prison.

Alicia defends a man accused of killing his child's babysitter. Meanwhile, Peter's appeal seems to be going well, and Alicia prepares for the idea of him returning to her life.

Eli Gold works on getting Peter's charges dropped, and Alicia defends Colin Sweeney, a client and accused wife killer, who claims self defense after she finds him handcuffed to a dead woman.

Alicia makes her decision about whether to stay with Peter or pursue a relationship with Will.

A multi-million dollar malicious prosecution suit leads to an explosive confrontation between Alicia and Glenn Childs. Meanwhile, Alicia's brother, Owen, visits after his questionable remarks about Peter goes viral online and makes Eli apoplectic.

Alicia risks disbarment when Childs' office suspects her of an ethics violation, which could also ruin Peter's political campaign. Meanwhile, a third candidate is revealed in the campaign for state's attorney.

When Alicia's client confesses under duress to murdering a fellow prison inmate, Cary's team seeks to challenge by uncovering an unlikely connection between the two inmates. Meanwhile, Wendy Scott-Carr threatens to expose a Florrick family issue in hopes of forcing Peter to drop out of the race.

The law firm of Lockhart, Gardner and Bond sues a social networking site on behalf of a Chinese dissident, who posted an anonymous blog about democracy in China, and was jailed and tortured by the Chinese government when the site failed to protect his anonymity and turned over his IP address. Meanwhile, Eli gets a tip that he hopes will drive Childs out of the race, and Will and Diane hope to wrestle the firm away from Derrick Bond once and for all.

Lockhart Gardner law firm represents client and drug kingpin Lemond Bishop in divorce proceedings, even though Bishop wants reconciliation. Meanwhile, Kalinda is subpoenaed for a grand jury investigation.

Despite their tense relationship, Alicia and Kalinda rush to prove their client's innocence in a murder trial, while the timing might finally be right for Alicia and Will to pursue their relationship.

Alicia worries that she will break confidentiality when the Treasury Department forces her to report on her latest client, while Peter reluctantly digs into Will's past transgressions.