The Rules Of Professional Engagement  – The episode opens in a parking garage in Los Angela where a perfectly placed right hook knocks Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) back into the past.

In a photo shoot with photographer (Kurt Sanchez Kanazawa), Mickey receives a call from Lorna “Second Wife” (Becki Newton) reminding him of his hectic schedule. He chalks up burglary and indecent exposure criminal, Russell Lawson (David Layton Rogers) as a “tweaker.” She says Lawson paid the retainer upfront. Before hanging up, she asks if he has Jesus Menendez’s (Saul Huezo) file. Hesitating, he tells her that he wants to be prepared in case there are more charges when “First Wife” pops up on his phone. Maggie McPherson (Neve Campbell) calls to confirm their dinner plans with Haley Haller (Krista Warner). Izzy Letts (Jazz Raycole) arrives to chauffer him to and front his appointments. Her stinky gym bag leads to the revelation of her and Ray (Shelby Lee) teaching dance lessons for extra cash.

Lorna reminds Mickey of her impending wedding with Dennis “Cisco” Wojciechowski (Angus Sampson) and again, her overly hectic schedule. After learning Cisco misled her by helping Mickey with a case, she hasn’t been able to get in contact with him. He suggests utilizing Izzy with the paperwork in the office for overtime.

Local Lockup – Russell Lawson, a specialist in reconstructing companies in debt crisis and after bankruptcy, is waiting when Mickey arrives. Russell claims after a friend stood him up for a drink at the Santa Monica Pier, he had a few drinks before calling an Uber. When he came to, he was in the backseat of a police cruiser. Mickey points out that the police report reveals after invading a neighbor’s home,  he helped himself to a sandwich and passed out on the sofa. The homeowner found him without his pants sometime later . The police charged him with “felony breaking and entering.” Russell is none too thrilled with the arraignment still two days away. Mickey promises to get him sprung on bail.

Mickey experiences his own troubles with the absent “Cisco.” Detective Raymond Griggs (Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine) alerts him of the Mendez case being reopened. Trying to rectify the embarrassing wrong conviction, the DA and local law enforcement are urged to designate a task force, headed by Griggs, to the case. Griggs voices his frustration for being put in charge of the task force. Reminding him of Mendez’s tattoo claim, Mickey suggests starting there first.

Local Restaurant – Maggie informs Mickey of her new double homicide case, potentially gang-related. She complains about his constantly buzzing phone. He gets her back by insulting her new beau, Jim. She boasts of Jim’s esteemed career as a forensic auditor for the Justice Department. She contributes her frustration to a demotion with salary decrease. She admits to struggling with her half of Hayley’s expenses. To make matters worse, the waiter sends a compliment to the “Lincoln Lawyer” from the chef.

Haller And Associates – Cisco makes and appearance with Lorna’s freshly groomed dog and her favorite sushi. When she mentions Mickey’s file, he admits to picking them up but the reception was spotty. She appears to buy it.

Local Restaurant – Chef Lisa Trammell (self) joins Mickey at his table after Maggie’s departure. After a duly compliment, Mickey tells her that Maggie is his ex-wife. She says she and her ex-husband don’t communicate before inviting him to her place for a glass of wine. Accepting the invite, they are soon getting intimate. He wakes to find her side of the bed empty and a note. Over breakfast, she tells him about her dispute with the building developer, Mitchell Bondurant (Clint Carmichael). They briefly discuss Bondurant’s history of targeting neighborhoods with residents struggling to pay the rent. Lisa says it is happening in her neighborhood. He offers to assist her in finding a real estate attorney at a discount rate which she readily declines. Walking to his Lincoln, he spots Lisa feeding a group of protestors.

Haller And Associates – Mickey returns to his office to see Cisco at his desk. An overworked Lorna is put to ease when he says Izzy will be up after parking the Lincoln. Cisco tells him that his search for information on Griggs was futile. She informs them of Mendez’s first conviction being tossed out because of double jeopardy. Gloria “Gloria Days” Dayton (Fiona Rene) returned to town but is MIA. Studying two photos of Lawson’s place, they determine only one has hedges. Lorna refuses to put Lisa through to see Mickey until he intervenes. She tells him that Bondurant served her with a restraining order. Further inquiries reveal she staged the protest in her neighborhood. She contributes the restraining order to a recent interview in which she voiced her dissatisfaction of “gentrification.” They strike a deal, he will represent her as a TPO client in exchange for more of her time and food.

Outside Prison – Cisco greets newly paroled Kaz (Douglas Bennett). He offers him a ride on his motorcycle.

Police Station – Griggs asks Menendez to confirm he and Martha Renteria departed from the club at 10:30pm. Menendez claims they agreed upon a price before going to her place to have sex. He says she provided the condoms which he flushed down the toilet. Griggs says during an interview, Inmate Luis Castillo (Paul Lincoln Alayo), Menendez’s roommate at the time, claims he confessed to him. Luis also said he watched him toss the murder weapon into the river. Stunned by the revelation and Griggs’ decision to not charge Menendez with murder, Mickey scolds him for not being more open with him.

Freemann Residence – Maggie is stewing over Menendez’s overturned conviction, thanks to Mickey. She suggests Bob believes she contributed to the overturned conviction. She accuses him of stealing her best cases. Andrea Freemann (Yaya DaCosta) says a private firm is her only option. Maggie stresses the importance of staying there for Hayley’s sake.

Lawson Arraignment –  Mortimer Lyons (Richard Kuller) calls the case to order but Mickey intervenes to present Cisco’s nearly identical photos to the opposing counsel, DA Beth Sauber (Sachie Alessio). He suggests there is no case since there is no evidence of intent to commit burglary. She says he still need to prove Lawson was intoxicated enough to enter the neighboring home. Given that Lawson’s credit card statement shows only three alcoholic beverage and the legal limit is six, Mickey threatens to delay the arraignment until Lawson’s toxicology report comes back. He points out the club has a “roofie” history. The DA is forced to drop the felony charge to a misdemeanor which pleases Lawson greatly.

Outside the courtroom, a sullen Maggie complains about Bob refusing her a case while offering her the position of second chair. They make amends from their previous argument before heading off in separate directions.

Register’s Office – Lorna picks up a form for the “Criminal Practice Clinic.” She claims Mickey is her mentor. The receptionist says the signature must be from a mentor approved by the Clinic. When speaking to Cisco on the phone, she tells him that she is in class. He tells her that he is at “The Patch” checking up on a lead for Glory Days. Kaz receives a huge welcome from his motorcycle friends.

Driving Home – Izzy informs Mickey of Lawson paying his retainer fee in full. After the call ends, he heads to the patio to relax when Lawson appears. Lawson boasts of new attorney’s skills before says he paid the retainer fee to secure his representation. Mickey spots his Old English tattoo. Lawson tells him that Martha deserved to be murdered. It doesn’t take long before Mickey to realize he is talking about the Menendez case. Lawson admits to spiking his drink and intentionally breaking into his neighbor’s house to retain his legal services. Mickey agrees as long as Menendez isn’t convicted of Martha’s murder as the episode ends.

 

The Lincoln Lawyer Review

I have never had the privilege of reading of any Michael Connolly’s novels, so I have to admit I was thrown by the spectacular twisty ending. Other than that, the episode was lackluster. No offense to Rulfo, Sampson, Mwine, or Neve Campbell, but the acting on this feels extremely subpar. For me, it’s the superbly annoying voices. I can’t understand what Rulfo is slurring out half the time, while I can feel Angus straining with each word.

For Mwine, he sounds like he smokes a box of cigars a day. Warner is just equally as bad, but with her minimal screen time, she isn’t even worth mentioning. Neve isn’t that unlikeable, but her role feels almost needless. For the story alone, I would have to give this episode 5.5.

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