Compassionate small-town lawyer Richard Clarke moves to New York City to seek his fortune, but is unsuccessful until he takes a friend's advice and tries to convince the world he's a ruthless heel. Suddenly he's the most popular lawyer in town -- but he could lose his fiancTe.

Lawyer Richard Clarke has a small legal practice in Pottsville, New York, but as his black assistant, Shufro, points out, Clarke is just too nice to make any money, for he refuses to charge his poor clients or accept morally questionable clients. Clarke is in love with pretty Janie Brown, whose successful father wants her to marry wealthy Bill Potts. One afternoon, Janie and Brown visit Clarke's office, and after Brown leaves, his car is hit by a truck-driving farmer. Hoping to impress Brown, Clarke takes the case to court and sues the farmer for damages. Upon learning how impoverished the farmer is, however, Clarke gets the case dismissed. Brown pretends to be pleased with Clarke's ability to temper justice with mercy and encourages him to go to New York City to make a name for himself. Oblivious to the fact that Brown actually is trying to get rid of him, Clarke, accompanied by Shufro, gamely makes the move. Four months pass as Clarke's bills accumulate and not a single client comes through his door. One day, Clarke receives word that Janie and Brown, who think he lives in luxury on Park Avenue, are coming to visit, and in a panic, he and Shufro try to find a suitable apartment. While visiting one ritzy building, they hear a husband and wife arguing, and after the couple leave, Shufro installs Clarke in their apartment. Clarke brings along Brown and Janie, who wants to marry the lawyer immediately. Clarke insists that they wait for one month, and when the arguing couple return to the apartment, Clarke hustles Brown and Janie out for a tour of nightclubs. The next day, Clarke admits to his secretary, Miss Crockett, that the club hopping used up the last of his money, and Shufro urges him to become meaner to attract clients. Determined to practice being mean, Clarke goes for a walk, during which he steals a little boy's lollypop. A passing photographer snaps a picture of the act, which is then immortalized in the next day's newspaper with the headline "Meanest Man In The World Takes Candy From Baby!" Clarke is mortified, but soon feels better when billionaire Frederick P. Leggitt, who is looking for an unscrupulous attorney, arrives at his office. Clarke accepts a large retainer from Leggitt, then begins his first assignment, which is to evict Leggitt's elderly sister-in-law Frances. Shufro arranges for a photographer to get a picture of Clarke dispossessing Frances, and the publicity brings him even more clients. Unknown to the public, who fear that Frances has committed suicide, Clarke installs Frances in his new apartment. Soon after, Clarke is telling Leggitt about the eviction when Janie arrives to plan their wedding. Horrified to learn of Clarke's apparent change in character, Janie breaks off their engagement. While Clarke is getting drunk in a hotel bar, a body, presumed to be Frances', is found in a river. A reporter calls Clarke's apartment for a comment, and when Frances answers, she refuses to give her name and says only that she lives with Clarke. Meanwhile, Clarke has met the equally drunk Janie in the bar, and when she hears a radio report that he is living in a love nest with an ex-Follies star, she slaps his face. A photographer captures the moment and it is published in the newspaper with a caption identifying Janie as Clarke's love nest partner. An infuriated Brown abducts Clarke and takes him to Janie's apartment, and after the couple are tied up, a Pottsville judge persuades Brown to allow him to marry them. Brown also agrees to get Clarke a job as attorney for the Pottsville bank, where he can reform and become a good husband. The delighted Janie then reveals that Shufro and Frances have already told her the truth about Clarke's "mean streak."