Avoiding legal trouble is satisfying, but a few things are more pleasing than watching others get on the wrong side of the law, especially if the said people are mere TV characters. Television producers know this aspect of human psychology, so they’ve pumped out dozens of legal drama series over the years. Whether it’s a case-of-the-week format or a lengthy story arc, these shows never fail to fascinate.
In the 2020s, we have witnessed an even greater supply of incredible legal-themed shows. From flashy, Bohemian lawyers to down-on-luck ordinary residents, there is something for everyone. But which of these small-screen productions is truly worth watching? The following options cover all the basics while making enough sensible deviations to make them stand out from others of their kind. In addition to that, they are the best options for anyone looking to convert casuals into genre believers.
9‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ (2022 – Present)
The Lincoln Lawyer
At a quick glance,The Lincoln Lawyer’s Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) seems like someone who spends listless days in his Lincoln Navigator. However, he isa skilled attorney working out of the same car instead of an office.The character,first played by Matthew McConaugheyin a 2011 movie of the same name, has gained more prominence, thanks to the Netflix show.
Gas Is Cheaper Than Rent
Moving, eccentric, dreamy, and transfixing, the TV version ofThe Lincoln Lawyeris a treat for both genre fans and general audiences. Despite sticking to the framework laid out in the source material (The Brass Verdictby Michael Connelly),the show presents a vibrant world with its own rhythm, depicting the kinds of plaintiffs and defendants rarely seen. Enjoy the ride.
8‘Perry Mason’ (2020 – 2023)
perry mason
Perry Masontakes us to 1930s Los Angeles when America is recovering from the woes of the Great Depression. Perry (Matthew Rhys), a veteran of The Great War, is now divorced andworking as a private investigator.He is soon hired for a sensational child kidnapping trial, butthings become complicated, forcing him to take a new career path as an attorney.
Defending Is More Fun Than Investigating
There is a 1957 legal drama of the same name, but the modern version stands tall asa thought-provoking, suspense-driven ride, with inspired performancesand a glowing sense of Los Angeles in the early 20th century.Robert Downey Jr. was supposed to play the lead characterbut had to drop out due to scheduling issues. Still, you’ll appreciate the work done by Matthew Rhys. The Emmys and the Golden Globes did.
7‘Reasonable Doubt’ (2022 – Present)
Reasonable Doubt
Reasonable Doubtstars Emayatzy Corinealdi as Jax Stewart,a classy Los Angeles corporate criminal defense lawyer dealing with high-profile cases.The show often delves into her complicated romantic relationships, showing her wielding power against her partners.
A Soapy Legal Drama
Created by formerScandalwriter Raamla Mohamed, andloosely based on the experiences of celebrity attorney Shawn Holley, the show is creative in many ways. For example, ituses Jay-Z’s music as a story roadmap. Each season is based on one of the albums, with theepisodes sharing the same titles as the rapper’s songs. Feminism is a recurring theme, with Jax often seen challenging her chauvinistic male counterparts and coming out on top.
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It appears lawyers object to everything, which makes sense with the film industry’s common misrepresentation of the legal practice in many movies.
6‘Defending Jacob’ (2020)
Defending Jacob
Defending Jacobconcerns Andy Baber (Chris Evans), an assistant district attorney assigned toa case involving a 14-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in a park near his school.Andy has his eyes on a notorious local pedophile, but the real culprit could be closer to home. The protagonist soon discovers a knife in his son Jacob’s room, fitting the description of the murder weapon.
Family Vs. Career
Chris Evans, known mostly for his work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, should also be lauded for this devastating miniseries, which packs a wallop. His focus, as his character navigates both high circles and society’s bottom rungs in search of answers, is unrivaled. The atmosphere remains gritty, uncompromising, and occasionally terrifying. Will the father discard what he believes in and save his son?
5‘The Devil Judge’ (2021)
The Devil Judge
Events inThe Devil Judgetake place ina dystopian version of South Korea, where chaos is the order of the dayand people harbor deep hatred towards authority. Criminal trials are conducted through a live courtroom show aired across the country, withthree judges tasked with delivering justice and creating peace.
More Than a Legal Show
With its smudged urban tenements and dark grey skies,The Devil Judgeprovides a perfect backdrop for violence, lamentations, and cold-blooded reprisals. The show’s intellectualism is easy to see asinspiration is drawn from various real-world events, including Donald Trump’s presidency, COVID-19, Brexit, and Duterte’s regime in the Philippines. Plot elements are also plucked from sources likeBeauty and the Beast, The Dark Knight Rises,andAlfred Hitchcock’sRebecca.
4‘For Life’ (2020 – 2021)
For Lifeconcerns Aaron Wallace (Nicholas Pinnock),a man given a life sentence for a crime he did not commit. While behind prison walls, Wallace studies and becomes a lawyer, and then works to defend fellow inmates. But is he ever happy? It appears his fate has caused permanent scars, and the demons lurking underneath him threaten to derail him. The legal drama isloosely based on the life of talent manager, Isaac Wright Jr.
Making the Most Out of Unfortunate Circumstances
This energetic legal drama invites comparisons to otherpopular prison-themed TV showsbutstands proudly on its own due to the legal jargon.Executive produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, the dramasoars on the phenomenal performance of Nicholas Pinnock, who radiates electricity throughout, making his character likable. It’s a pity it ended so soon.
3‘Anatomy of a Scandal’ (2022)
Anatomy of a Scandal
How much can a wife bear? Known forcritically acclaimed lawyer showslikeBoston LegalandThe Practice, David E. Kelley brings usAnatomy of a Scandal.The miniseries follows Sophie Whitehouse, the solemn wife of a British Tory MP wholearns that her husband has been sleeping with his young aide.Things get even worse when is accused of sexually assaulting the same aide.
Family Shame
Both husband and wife are earnest in their quest to find solutions to their quagmires. You’ll sympathize with their lack of joie de vivre, but you’ll frown at the bad behavior that led to all this.Sienna Miller is perfect in her role as the wife who didn’t ask for any of this, and the rest of the cast back her up well. Six episodes and you are done.
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The law profession is highly regarded internationally. Part of that esteem is derived from the professional attire many lawyers choose to adhere to.
2‘Your Honor’ (2020 – 2023)
Your Honor
Bryan Cranston stars inYour Honoras the New Orleans judge, Michael Desiato. His career remains spotless until his teenage son confesses he committed a hit-and-run. Michael insists that the young man turn himself in, but he changes his mind upon learning that the victim is the son of a dangerous crime boss. He is troubled, but for us viewers, his misfortunes only make his odyssey more intriguing.
As Frantic as Walter White
Your Honorwas only intended to be a limited series, but when fans ask for more, you give it to them. Cranston has never been better. He is always on the move,his demeanor echoing that of his more famous character, Walter White. Michael Stuhlbarg almost steals the show as the disgruntled mob boss who has an axe to grind with Michael. Pay attention in order to catch a glimpse of another iconicBreaking Badactor.
1‘The Law According to Lidia Poët’ (2023)
The Law According to Lidia Poët
Inspired by the true story of Italy’s first female lawyer,The Law According to Lidia Poëtamalgamates history, fiction, and legal chaos, resulting in an addictive drama. Set in 19th century Turin, the showtraces Lidia Poët’s footsteps after she is disbarred from the legal registry board because of her gender.She appeals, and as she waits for the outcome, she makes herself useful in her brother Enrico’s law firm.
Fighting for Work
Tackling an archaic, chauvinistic legal system with keen discernment and condemnation, this show is mostly reserved, with the riveting action playing out on the faces of the characters more than on the ground. Boosted by the skillful use of point-of-view camerawork, the tension remains palpable despite the hyper-verbal tone and limited locations. Most importantly, Matilda de Angelis gives the kind of performance that would easily win an Emmy if members of the Academy made a habit of watching obscure shows rather than just the trending ones.
