The first season of How to Get Away with Murder follows Annalise Keating, a prominent criminal defense attorney and law professor at Middleton University, and five of her students (Wes Gibbins, Connor Walsh, Michaela Pratt, Asher Millstone, and Laurel Castillo), who become involved in a murder cover up

. The season explores two related murders through flashbacks and flashforwards: Lila Stangard, who was having an affair with Annalise's husband Sam, and Sam Keating, who was killed by Annalise's interns

. Plot points and events that occur in season 1:

• Annalise selects five of her first-year students to intern at her firm: Wes Gibbins, Connor Walsh, Michaela Pratt, Asher Millstone, and Laurel Castillo; they are known as the "Keating 5"

. They work alongside Annalise's employees, Frank Delfino and Bonnie Winterbottom

• The first nine episodes alternate between the present day, where Wes, Connor, Michaela, and Laurel are covering up Sam's murder, and flashbacks leading up to Sam's death

. Annalise becomes involved in the Lila Stangard investigation at Wes' urging, which leads her to discover Sam's affair and suspect him of killing Lila

• In a flashforward, after Sam is murdered, Michaela starts freaking out, and Asher shows up at the crime scene, angry about losing the trophy

• Michaela pushes Sam over the banister, but Wes ultimately kills him with the trophy

• The Keating 5 burn Sam's body and dispose of the remains

• Annalise files a missing person report on Sam, making it appear as though he fled after killing Lila

• Annalise persuades the court that Rebecca had nothing to do with Lila's death and shifts the blame to Sam

• Annalise tells Frank what really happened to Sam

• Annalise's sister-in-law, Hannah, arrives in Middleton looking for answers about Sam's disappearance

• When Sam's remains are discovered, the police suspect Annalise is involved in his death

• Annalise has Frank frame Nate for Sam's murder, leading to Nate's arrest

• The police find Lila's dead body

• Sam was found guilty of Lila's murder

• Wes was found guilty of Sam's murder

• Annalise had an affair with a police officer, Nate

• Sam wanted to kill Lila and hide his infidelity but had Frank do it

• Rebecca was murdered in a house where only the Keating 5, Bonnie, Frank, and Annalise were present

• Connor's partner is HIV positive