Boston Legal is a spin-off of David E. Kelley`s 1997 series The Practice, which chronicles the exploits of former practice character Alan Shore (James Spader) at the law firm. Boston Legal is a spin-off of David E. Kelley`s 1997 series The Practice, which follows the exploits of former practice character Alan Shore (James Spader) at the law firm of Crane, Poole and Schmidt. Boston Legal is a spin-off of David E. Kelley`s series The Practice (1997), which follows the exploits of former practice character Alan Shore (James Spader) at the crane law firm. Poole and Schmidt. Alan Shore: You see? Don`t play fair. And I`m just getting started. Alan Shore: Let me tell you two things about myself.
I, too, am a lawyer, I can be painfully vindictive, and I do not play fair.