From the start of the novel, it’s clear that Theodore “Theo” Boone is passionate about the law. His only debate is whether he will become a trial attorney or a judge. He goes “back and forth, changing his mind daily” (6). At 13 years old, Theo spends more time in the courthouse than most lawyers, and this is apparent from the way he interacts with judges, bailiffs, clerks, and other officers of the court. This knowledge earns him a reputation for being able to help with legal situations and for being connected to professionals in the legal field. In the first chapter, he asks Judge Gantry directly if he and his class can reserve seats for the opening statements of the Duffy trial.

Like the “kid lawyer” that he is, Theo sees “clients” that are his classmates about their family’s legal troubles. He even has his own little law office within a closet in Boone & Boone where he meets with other students, striving for those he meets with to walk away as “[a]nother satisfied client” (42). This sense of satisfaction as he helps others recurs throughout the novel, which ends with Theo helping Miss Gloria from his school on a case with her brother before heading off to class.