The Lincoln Lawyer season 3 wrapped up the case connected to Glory Days and Julian La Cosse, but Mickey Haller’s next trial seemingly confirms which book will be adapted for season 4. Netflix’s legal drama notably adapts Michael Connelly’s popular books featuring the LA-based defense attorney, with a different novel being the basis of each season thus far. Whereas season 1 focused on “The Brass Verdict,” The Lincoln Lawyer season 2 adapted “The Fifth Witness,” which notably covered the Lisa Trammel case.

The Lincoln Lawyer season 2’s ending revealed where the series was headed by confirming Glory Days’ death, meaning the upcoming installment would be adapting “The Gods of Guilt,” the fifth entry in Connelly’s Lincoln Lawyer series. The story meant much of The Lincoln Lawyer‘s cast would remain intact, with Manuel Garcia-Rulfo portraying the lead character and the man behind the Lincoln Lawyer nickname, Mickey Haller. Though The Lincoln Lawyer season 4 isn’t confirmed just yet, season 3 gives insight into what’s in store for Mickey if the show returns.

What Happened To Mickey Haller In The Lincoln Lawyer Season 3’s Final Scene

Mickey’s Fate Will Heavily Impact Lincoln Lawyer Season 4

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The Julian La Cosse case didn’t exactly go as planned for Mickey and his team, thanks to unexpected twists surrounding Neil Bishop, Hector Moya, and James De Marco. Still, Mickey was able to help Julian become a free man again, and the group got a hefty settlement from the district attorney’s office. Sadly, the celebration was short-lived because The Lincoln Lawyer season 3’s ending contained one final twist that featured Mickey getting pulled over by a police officer due to a missing license plate.

…the fate of Garcia-Rulfo’s character also indicated which Connelly book will take the spotlight in The Lincoln Lawyer season 4.

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The missing license plate was the least of Mickey’s worries, however, when the cop discovered blood dripping from the car’s trunk. Upon inspection, Mickey’s trunk was hiding the dead body of his client Sam Scales, who Lorna had worked with earlier in the season. Sam’s name was mentioned as a client who hadn’t paid up, but there was no indication that he was missing or in danger. Whoever killed Sam clearly meant to frame Mickey, but the fate of Garcia-Rulfo’s character also indicated which Connelly book will take the spotlight in The Lincoln Lawyer season 4.

The Lincoln Lawyer Season 3’s Ending Sets Up “The Law Of Innocence” As Season 4’s Book Story

The Plot Links To Michael Connelly’s 2020 Book

Based on the reveal in season 3’s ending, it surely seems like The Lincoln Lawyer season 4 plans to adapt Michael Connelly’s “The Law of Innocence” book. Published in 2020, “The Law of Innocence” focuses on Mickey after he’s charged with murder after a former client’s body is found in his trunk. Though he was framed, he’s forced to go through the traditional legal process like any other citizen, leading to Mickey’s decision to defend himself rather than hire his own defense lawyer.​

If working out of one of his several Lincolns was difficult, Mickey will face the most difficult trial to date while also prepping from his jail cell. In the book, Mickey’s extremely high bail prevents him from going free until the trial, so a lot will also depend on the rest of his team, Lorna, Cisco, and Izzy, to step up more than they ever have before. Though Harry Bosch makes an appearance in “The Law of Innocence,” and other books featuring Mickey, he likely won’t make the jump to the Netflix series.

What “The Law Of Innocence” Teases About The Lincoln Lawyer Season 4

Mickey’s Murder Charge Means Big Changes For The Lincoln Lawyer

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Despite setting up “The Law of Innocence” as the foundation for The Lincoln Lawyer season 4, Netflix will need to renew the legal drama before viewers can turn their sights to the show’s future. That said, even with a renewal and season 4’s setup, there will still be liberties taken with the show, allowing for elements to be tweaked to fit the Netflix adaptation. The Lincoln Lawyer showrunners teased season 4, confirming that the latest installment “will definitely set up the next book” before speaking on the show’s hopeful future beyond that.

Notable Characters In The Lincoln Lawyer
Actors

Mickey Haller
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo

Lorna Crane
Becki Newton

Dennis “Cisco” Wojciechowski
Angus Sampson

Izzy Letts
Jazz Raycole

Andrea “Andy” Freeman
Yaya DaCosta

Maggie McPherson
Neve Campbell

Hayley Haller
Krista Warner

David “Legal” Siegel
Elliot Gould

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Interestingly, the showrunners hinted that season 3’s ending wouldn’t “set up the next case,” but that could be due to the fact that the finale ended before Mickey was shown arrested or charged. Instead, it concluded with the character in shock at the reveal of Sam’s dead body in his trunk. Barring any surprises from the showrunner in regard to the case at the center of season 4’s story, all signs point to Mickey being the one on trial. The circumstances would likely involve all of Mickey’s supporters being present in some capacity, so it would make sense for Maggie, Hayley, Andy, and Legal to make appearances in The Lincoln Lawyer season 4.