Frank Galvin (played by Paul Newman) is a once-successful Boston lawyer who has hit rock bottom due to a combination of heavy drinking and a string of failed cases. He is approached by his former colleague, Mickey Morrissey (played by Jack Warden), with an opportunity to redeem himself: a medical malpractice suit involving a woman who was left in a vegetative state after receiving an incorrect anesthesia dosage during childbirth.
Initially, Galvin is reluctant to take the case, viewing it as just another opportunity to make some easy money without putting in much effort. However, as he begins to investigate the case, he becomes increasingly convinced that the hospital's negligence was far worse than he initially thought. He also develops a deep sense of empathy for the victim and her family, who are desperate for answers and justice.
Galvin decides to take the case to trial, even though it seems like an impossible uphill battle against a powerful hospital corporation and a skilled defense lawyer. Along the way, he faces numerous challenges, including personal attacks on his reputation, opposition from his own colleagues, and the constant temptation to settle for a lesser amount.
Through it all, Galvin perseveres, driven by his newfound determination to make things right and to prove himself as a competent and worthy lawyer. In the end, he delivers a powerful closing argument that indicts the hospital and its staff for their callous behavior, and wins a substantial settlement for his clients. The film ends with Galvin looking out over the city, renewed and redeemed by his hard-fought victory.