Student Wes Gibbins begins attending law classes taught by renowned lawyer, the tough and enigmatic Annalise Keating. She offers five students the chance to work with her, while in a flash forward, the students chosen dispose of a body.
The team defend a millionaire accused of murdering his wife, and as they probe, more secrets are revealed. Meanwhile, Annalise is suspicious of Sam's knowledge of Lila Stangard, and in the flash forward, Wes makes a mysterious phone call.
A woman originally arrested for a misdemeanor is revealed as a terrorist who carried out a deadly attack years earlier. The team work to clear her, while Wes tries to investigate Lila Sangard's murder, and Nate seeks information about Sam.
The team helps a woman accused of insider trading, which has a profound effect on the people working for her. Meanwhile, Bonnie helps obtain a video copy of Rebecca's confession, significantly affecting her case.
Annalise takes on a tough case defending a minor who fatally shoots his police officer father. Meanwhile, Annalise and Sam continue to argue over his relationship with Lila, and Wes and Rebecca begin to question Annalise's motives. In flash-forwards, we learn more about Laurel's relationship with Frank and why he was calling her the night of Sam's death.
Annalise manages to orchestrate an appeal for a man on death row, convicted of murdering his girlfriend years earlier, and sentenced by Asher's father, Judge William Millstone. Meanwhile, Frank tries to locate Rebecca.
Annalise and her team throw themselves into defending Rebecca, with all sides playing dirty. Meanwhile, Michaela receives a surprising request, Laurel considers a career change, and the flash forward reveals more about Sam's death.
The revelation about Lila's pregnancy prompts several different reactions, Michaela meets Aiden's domineering mother, and the case of a real estate agent accused of murdering her children's nanny proves difficult for the team.
The flash forward finally syncs with the present, and the events that transpired on the night of Sam's death are revealed, which has severe consequences for all involved.
As the search for Sam begins, it is uncertain how much Annalise knows about what really happened, while a surprise visitor creates complications for the students.
After Christmas and New Year, the students arrive back at college and are immediately given the task of assisting with the case of a woman who claims to have been abused by her husband and forced to imprison young girls for years.
As the team defend a priest accused of murdering a fellow man of the cloth, a series of flashbacks begins to finally reveal exactly what happened on the night Lila was murdered.