Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer is set in the small town of Strattenburg and follows a young boy named Theodore Boone, whose parents both work as lawyers. His mom is a divorce attorney; his father works in real estate law. Because of his parents, Theodore (who calls himself "Theo") is deeply involved with the legal world. He often accompanies his parents to work and to their various hearings. He also offers legal advice to his classmates and dreams of following in his parent's footsteps and becoming a lawyer.
Residents of the town of Strattenburg are consumed with the coverage surrounding the murder trial of Peter Duffy, who was accused of strangling his wife, Myra, for her life insurance policy. The entire city is divided on his guilt, but the prosecution has a weak case due to a lack of witnesses or definitive evidence. Theo decides to closely follow the trial.
Things take a turn when Theo's friend April tells him a secret: her cousin Julio, an undocumented immigrant, claims to have seen Duffy dispose of Myra's body on the night of the murder. However, Julio is terrified of coming forward because he might be deported or hurt by Duffy.
Theo, who knows he can't turn to his parents with such a question, is unsure what he should advise Julio. Because of this, he consults his Uncle Ike, a disbarred lawyer, who tells him that he should convince Julio to speak with the police. Ultimately, Theo is able to persuade Julio that he should talk with the police. However, the prosecutor of the case decides not to use Julio as a witness in his case because of the potential repercussions that could come to it.
The trial concludes without Julio's testimony. Duffy's high-powered defense attorney puts up a good fight against the charges, arguing that the client didn't commit the crime he was accused of. To the shock of many townspeople, Duffy is acquitted and released. In turn, Julio is offered protection by the authorities for coming forward and speaking out against Duffy.
In the end, Theo surmises that Duffy might face other legal issues in the future as a result of Myra's death. As a result of his involvement in the case, Theo's interest in the legal system grows even stronger. He is even more determined than before to fight for justice and the rule of law.
