As a boy, Nick George watched his father surrender his freedom and family as the trusted consigliere to the absurdly rich Darlings of New York City. Nick grew up being second to the overpowering family. Burned by his boyhood encounters with them, the idealistic Nick did a 180-degree turn and became a lawyer for the disadvantaged. After the death of his father, family patriarch Tripp Darling offers Nick the opportunity to inherit the responsibility of being the family lawyer and protecting the Darlings' secrets. But the ungodly salary that will allow Nick the freedom to be an altruistic do-gooder is only part of the picture. As he finds himself racing to plead with cops, hush the tabloids and furiously try to wipe the mud off the esteemed Darling reputation, Nick wonders if he has gotten the chance of a lifetime -- or a life sentence.