 The show is set in San Francisco because creator  David E. Kelley (qv) wanted a cosmopolitan setting. Previous  Kelley shows have been set in Boston (including  _"Ally McBeal" (1997)_ (qv), _"Practice, The" (1997)_ (qv) and  _"Boston Public" (2000)_ (qv)) because Kelley believed it would be  easier to get exterior footage shot in Boston if all of his shows  were set there (although it turned out to be more expensive).