Top 10 Legal Dramas to Binge Watch This Summer
For some reason, people are hard-wired to be unable to turn away from a garbage fire. And since it's no secret that lawyers hate legal dramas for their wild inaccuracies, for some reason, a good number of us just can't turn away. Our more experienced TV watching companions know to hover their finger over the pause button, lest our couch objections and grumblings about real life timelines would disrupt the predictably twisted plot line.
Nevertheless, just about every other lawyer out there watches every legal drama and TV series that gets released. Sometimes, some of these fall through the cracks though. For that reason, below, we've listed our top ten legal dramas to binge watch this summer.
10. The Defenders
Who doesn't love the idea of starting over in the fast paced world of criminal defense in lovely Las Vegas? Apparently, all you need is a billboard. Most surprising about this series: it's actually based on real life Las Vegas lawyers.
9. The Guardian
As a result of a drug conviction, a high-priced corporate lawyer (that works at his daddy's firm) is given the Seinfeldian sentence of logging 1,500 hours as a non-profit attorney.
8. Boston Legal
William Shatner as a big shot, loud mouthed, Boston lawyer ... Need I say more?
7. The Good Wife
Intrigue, scandal, and morally casual attitudes make for a racy and exciting storyline that starts when a stay-at-home mom returns to her former life as a lawyer, while her lawyer husband makes political moves.
6. Eli Stone
Since we have to suspend reality anyway to go along with what TV tries to pass off as real courtroom dialogue, might as well sprinkle in some fantasy. Eli Stone is a whimsical look at a San Francisco attorney who starts having hallucinations and decides to become more moral.
5. Better Call Saul
Perhaps one of the edgiest legal dramas, which is currently still being produced, and trending, tracks the story of James McGill, who the world was introduced to as Saul Goodman ["It's all good man... 's all goodman... Saul Goodman?"] in the hit series Breaking Bad. McGill is not your typical criminal lawyer, he's a criminal lawyer, and his antics are legendarily unethical, but they sure are entertaining.
4. Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law
This one is not a legal drama, and it's animated, but if you're binge watching over the summer, and kids are around, give good old Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, a chance. Disclaimer: you may have to explain some of the more adult references, but Mr. Birdman does defend the cast of Scoobie Doo on drug charges, so there's that. And Stephen Colbert did voice work for the show.
3. Ally McBeal
If you haven't watched this, watch it. Not even going to say anything for risk of spoiling it. If you've seen it, why not re-watch it?
2. The Practice
The first couple seasons are the absolute gold standard in legal dramas. It starts to trail off, but if you get into it, it'll be hard to stop watching. But don't worry, there are eight seasons. Practice pointer: Study Eugene's "United States of America" closing arguments.
1. The Grinder
The Grinder just keeps on grinding, until he stops abruptly because the show didn't get renewed for a second season, despite being one of the funniest legal TV shows ever. Seriously, Rob Lowe, as the Grinder, does an amazing job as a TV lawyer that tries to work in his father's real life law firm. The brother, played by Fred Savage, should appeal to lawyer viewers as he constantly reminds his TV lawyer brother that the law just doesn't work the way it does on TV.
Related Resources:
- 3 Best TV Shows for Lawyers (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
- A New Era For TV Legal Dramas? Two Networks Will Find Out (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
- A Lawyer's Guide to Fall TV: The Verdict on 3 New Legal Dramas (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
- 5 Legal TV Shows to Binge-Watch This Summer (FindLaw's Celebrity Justice)