The cancellation of the show after its second season was controversial because it had solid ratings among the older demographic of audience members. Apparently the network wanted a younger audience, so they canceled a show who didn't attract them.
Kathy Bates said on the talk show "Chelsea" that the official reason given for the show's cancellation was that the viewership's average age was too old to appeal to sponsors.
In a 2010 interview with Howard Stern, Lewis Black stated David Kelley wrote the original pilot for what was then known as "Kindreds" for him specifically. He stated Kelley asked him to come out to L.A. to film it so the network execs could see Black in the role. Black agreed and they filmed for a day. Black said, however, the network wanted a "star" and only offered him half of the money for which he was asking. He declined the offer. Subsequently, the role for what became "Harry's Law" was offered to Kathy Bates.
The role of Harry was originally written for a man.