Like most young lawyers, Mitch McDeere (Tom Cruise) was working hard, putting in terribly long hours and giving his all to his firm in hopes of standing out with the partners and earning their respect. When two associates are murdered, Mitch is approached by the FBI in an attempt to gain information. He begins to wonder about his firm and their client list. One of the partners, Avery Toler (Gene Hackman) makes it his job to make sure that Mitch is a company man by setting him up with a woman while they are on a company trip and photographing the entire thing for blackmail. He makes sure Mitch knows that his life as he knows it hangs in the balance unless he keeps his mouth shut. The FBI begins to put more and more pressure on Mitch as well and he realizes that the only way out is to protect himself from both parties. Just how far is "The Firm" willing to go to keep Mitch quiet?