In a San Francisco, California, courtroom, attorney Jedediah Tucker Ward argues for the defense in a case of vandalism against an environmentally irresponsible corporation. The cheers of Jedediah’s supporters are audible in the adjacent courtroom, where his daughter, Maggie Ward, defends a large corporation against an individual. Afterward, the two attorneys meet in an elevator, but few words are exchanged. Jedediah returns to his law office, where he interviews Steven Kellen, who lost his family and his ability to walk following the explosion of his Argo Meridian station wagon. At the law offices of Quinn, Callifan & Lunt, partner Michael Grazier apprises Maggie of a class action suit against Argo Motors, in which plaintiffs allege that the car may explode during a rear-end collision when the left turn signal is engaged. Michael assures her that the suit is without merit, based on his long relationship with Argo. However, when Maggie expresses interest in defending Argo, Michael informs her that Jedediah is representing the plaintiffs. Regardless, Maggie accepts the assignment, certain that it will earn her a partnership in the firm. Meanwhile, Jedediah’s associate, Nick Holbrook, agrees that the case is weak, as only 132 Meridian owners have brought suit. Jedediah is undaunted, believing he can win. Later, while spending the night with Michael Grazier, Maggie explains that she prefers to keep their affair secret until she is promoted, as proof that she is able to advance in the firm on her own merits. The next evening, at Jedediah’s anniversary party, he declines a request from his wife, Estelle, that he and Maggie dance together, then dismisses his daughter’s assignment to the Argo suit as “a legal trick.” Maggie accuses Jedediah of disrespecting her and storms out of the restaurant. Estelle is upset by the exchange and begs Jedediah to stop alienating their daughter. The next day, Maggie refuses Estelle’s plea to recuse herself from the case, and reveals the grudge she holds toward her father for his extramarital affairs, even though Estelle has forgiven him. At a preliminary hearing, Jedediah further antagonizes Maggie by embarrassing her during a legal argument. As they leave the courthouse, Estelle voices her exasperation with her daughter, then dies suddenly of an arterial embolism. During the funeral reception, Jedediah recalls meeting Estelle when she was a young political activist. Nick Holbrook comforts Maggie, and advises her to stay with Jedediah. Sometime later, Maggie accompanies Michael Grazier to Argo Motors’ Research and Development Center, where Dr. George Getchell assures them that the Meridian is “the safest car on the road.” Maggie joins her father for dinner that evening and they reminisce about Estelle. However, as they browse through old photographs, Maggie is reminded of Jedediah’s affair with Estelle’s closest friend, and berates her father for his betrayal. She also reminds him of a disgruntled airline employee, whose life Jedediah ruined by bringing him to national prominence. Maggies denounces her father’s hypocrisy, and says that Estelle is better off dead than married to him. Jedediah orders Maggie from the house, and she returns to her home to find Michael Grazier waiting outside. In the morning, Maggie’s boss, Fred Quinn, orders her to discredit Steven Kellen during his depostion. She proceeds to outrage both the witness and Jedediah by blaming the fatal accident on Steven’s tendency to drive below the speed limit. Afterward, Fred Quinn warns Jedediah that all prosecution witnesses will receive the same ruthless treatment. That evening, Maggie sits in a bar, wracked with guilt over her performance, and identifies herself to the bartender as “a hired killer.” Both law firms discover a letter among the evidence submitted by Argo, in which the company’s chief executive officer commends Dr. Getchell on silencing engineer Alexander Pavel, who identified a defect in the Meridian. Maggie interviews Pavel at his rabbit farm outside the city, and he confirms that a faulty turn signal circuit could result in an explosion upon impact. Although Pavel’s original report has vanished, Maggie finds proof of the defect among the engineer’s notes in company archives. After photocopying the notes and locking them in her desk, Maggie advises Michael Grazier to settle with the plaintiffs. She notifies Dr. Getchell of her discovery, and he reveals that Michael instructed him to ignore Pavel’s report. Maggie confronts Michael, who admits to a lapse in judgment, then suggests destroying the evidence. Maggie realizes that Michael assigned her the case to protect himself, knowing that he could ruin her career if she discloses his error. Intent on protecting his firm, Fred Quinn decides to overwhelm the prosecution by shipping all of Argo’s archived files to Jedediah’s office, and misfiling Pavel’s incriminating notes. When Maggie asks Dr. Getchell why the defect was not corrected, she is shocked to learn that it was simply more cost-efficient to settle the few anticipated lawsuits than to repair 175,000 cars. Upon returning to her office, Maggie discovers that Pavel’s notes have been removed from her desk. She informs Quinn, who plans to fire Michael Grazier and offer her a partnership if she overlooks the ethical breach. That evening, she develops empathy for Jedediah after he admits to facing moral dilemmas similar to her own. The next day, Maggie demonstrates her loyalty to the firm by discrediting Alexander Pavel’s testimony. Jedediah retaliates by cross-examing Michael Grazier, who swears he had no prior knowledge of the Meridian’s defective circuitry. The prosecution calls Anthony Patricola to the witness stand. He is the Argo risk management expert who created the cost analysis based on Pavel’s safety report. Quinn demands a conference in Judge Symes’s chambers, and threatens to end Maggie’s career for giving her father privileged information. Jedediah argues that Michael willingly destroyed evidence, and Maggie fulfilled her legal obligation to provide a corroborating witness. Realizing his firm’s reputation has been compromised, he offers to settle the case. That evening, Maggie joins Jedediah and his associates as they celebrate the $100 million settlement. Reminding her father of Estelle’s request weeks earlier, Maggie and Jedediah dance together.