The Practice is an American legal drama created by David E. Kelley centering on the partners and associates at a Boston law firm. The show won the Emmy in 1998 and 1999 for Best Drama Series, and spawned the spin-off series Boston Legal, which began airing in the fall of 2004 and deals with similar subject matter, though often taking a lighter, more character-oriented approach.

The Practice focuses on the law firm of Robert Donnell and Associates (later becoming Donnell, Young, Dole & Frutt, and ultimately Young, Frutt & Berluti). Plots typically feature the firm's involvement in various high-profile criminal and civil cases that often mirror current events. There are a number of crossovers with other David E. Kelley shows, including Boston Legal, Ally McBeal, and the short-lived medical drama Gideon's Crossing. The Practice is one of David E. Kelley's more serious-themed shows, lacking much of the comedic breaks found in McBeal, Legal, and others.

In its first season, the show stars Dylan McDermott, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Steve Harris, Camryn Manheim, and Kelli Williams. With the exception of McDermott, the other cast members previously appeared on Law & Order. By episode two of season one, Michael Badalucco joins the cast as Jimmy Berluti. Later, during the same season, Lara Flynn Boyle joins the cast as district attorney Helen Gamble, a role she played for six seasons.

By the end of the seventh season, faced with sagging ratings, ABC conditioned the show's renewal on a drastic budget reduction. As a result, six cast members were fired: Dylan McDermott, Kelli Williams, Lara Flynn Boyle, Chyler Leigh, Marla Sokoloff, and Lisa Gay Hamilton. The addition of James Spader and Rhona Mitra to the cast for the eighth season somewhat revived the ratings; Spader went on to win an Emmy for his appearance. However, on March 11, 2004, ABC announced that The Practice would not return for a ninth season; rather, Kelley would create a new spin-off series Boston Legal, starring Spader, Mitra, and William Shatner.

This weekly television series is similar to other lawyer shows, but with a twist. Here, we follow the exploits and cases of defense attorneys of a Boston law firm. Bobby Donnell (Dylan McDermott) stars as the senior defense attorney and founder of the firm. Written by Ari Herzog

Bobby Donnell is the head of a struggling Boston law firm that seems to constantly struggle with ethical themes while defending murderers, rapists, etc. Jimmy, Eugene, Ellenor and Lindsay are junior attorneys with the firm, the streetwise receptionist, and Helen the firm's frequent adversary with the D.A.'s office in this smart and clever weekly series. Written by Marty McKee