Main •
Simon Baker, as Nicholas "Nick" Fallin, is a lawyer sentenced to community service for drug-related crimes. The central protagonist, he is a driven individual whose work and relationships are the focus for the series. •
Dabney Coleman, as Burton Fallin, is Nick's father and the senior partner at the law firm where Nick works. Another central protagonist, the two do not have a close relationship. Starting in season two, he fosters Shannon Gressler. •
Alan Rosenberg, as Alvin Masterson, is the head of Legal Services of Pittsburgh, where Nick is doing his community service. Later in the series, Alvin dates Laurie Solt, a social worker. •
Wendy Moniz, as Louisa "Lulu" Archer, is Nick's
de facto boss from midseason one and his main love interest. She marries another man, but Nick cannot seem to move on, partially because she cannot seem to, either, even after her marriage. •
Raphael Sbarge, as Jake Straka, is Nick's closest friend and a law colleague. •
Charles Malik Whitfield, as James Mooney, is an attorney at Legal Services of Pittsburgh and a friend of Nick's. He has a gang and drug background (seasons 1–2). •
Erica Leerhsen, as Amanda Bowles, is an ambitious but caring associate (first 13 episodes).
Recurring •
Rusty Schwimmer, as Barbara Ludinski, is the secretary for Legal Aid where Nick is doing his community service. Jake has an ongoing, but somewhat ambiguous relationship with her that teeters on the edge of becoming romantic. He likes and respects her, but he remains tentative (seasons 1–2). •
Kathleen Chalfant, as Laurie Solt, is a hardworking
social worker who provides guidance for Nick. •
Denise Dowse, as Judge Rebecca Damsen, presides over the cases in family court. •
AJ Michalka (as Amanda Michalka), as Shannon Gressler, is a troubled child (seasons 2–3).
Notable guest stars •
Farrah Fawcett, as Mary Gressler, is a troubled grandmother and love interest of Burton Fallin's. She appeared in four episodes in season two. •
Rita Moreno as Caroline Novak, is Lulu's mother (Louise Archer played by Wendy Moniz), for three episodes in 2003. •
Lolita Davidovich, as Victoria Little, is a social welfare advocate and a love interest of Alvin Masterson's. She appeared in two episodes. •
Zac Efron appears in episode 15 of season three. •
Bethany Joy Lenz, as Claire Stasiak, appeared in two episodes: "What It Means to You" and "My Aim Is True". •
Chris Pine, as a troubled teen, Lonnie Grandy, appeared in the season-three episode "Hazel Park". •
Will Ferrell, credited as "Phil Weston", made a
cameo appearance as Larry Flood, a new lawyer at LSP, in the season-two finale, "All the Rage". •
Corey Feldman appeared as a former child actor, Gavin Putinski, in season two's "You Belong to Me". •
Erik Estrada made a cameo appearance in a restaurant in season three, episode 18, "The Bachelor Party". •
Joseph Campanella as Ralph Longo, is the sick grandfather evicted from the home in which he had squatted for 21 years, in the season-three episode 9, "Let God Sort 'Em Out". •
Aaron Paul portrays a gay teenager in the season-one episode "The Men from the Boys". •
Chloë Grace Moretz, as Violet, appears in the season-three episodes "The Watchers" and "Blood in, Blood Out". This was her first acting role. •
Danielle Panabaker, as Samantha Gray, appears in the season-three episode "The Daughter-Father Dance", for which she won a
Young Artist Award for
Best Performance in a TV Series—Guest Starring Young Actress. •
Anna Gunn, as Meghan Barstow, is a lawyer for a pharmaceutical firm in season-one episodes "Home" and "Reunion". •
Viola Davis portrays Suzanna Clemons' attorney in the season-one episode "The Men from the Boys". •
Kerry Washington. as Drea Westbrook, is a client in the season-two episode "The Next Life". •
Jesse Plemons, as Lawrence Neal, portrays a disabled child in the season-one episode "Paternity". •
Lee Thompson Young, as Levi Mooney, is James' nephew over whom he briefly has custody. •
Andrew Lawrence, as Ronnie Wagner, is a 13-year-old accused of killing his adoptive mother in season two, episode two, "Monster". == Production and location==