Law school is an exhilarating experience. It puts you in a world that is both stressful and exciting. The stereotype about law schools being a tedious journey is true, hence it is necessary for students to find a means of escape that will entertain them and also give them a chance to relax. There is nothing like a good legal thriller that will provide you with the comfort that you are looking for. Legal shows and films are getting better and better over time. With more creative outlooks and approaches one would be surprised to see how our laws and provisions are being used creatively for entertainment. We have reached an era where legal shows have become a separate genre where thousands of people view shows based on lawyers and their lives on a daily basis.
With so much content and such little time, Your Legal Career Coach (YLCC) brings you a list of the Top 10 Legal TV Shows one can watch to unravel after a stressful day in court, law school or at the office. The list has been formulated on the basis of IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes ratings. We have also found interesting foreign shows for your interest!
10) Your Honor
Your Honor is an American Drama series starring the Breaking Bad actor, Bryan Cranston. If this was not enough, the show mildly resembles the dark persona of Bryan Cranston which he channelled for his Emmy winning role of Walter White / Heisenberg. Your Honor is adapted from an Israeli show called Kvodo. We recommend you watch that one as well. The plot is simple but also thrilling. Michael Desiato is a Judge from New Orleans. His son, Adam, gets involved in a hit and run case. The victim is the son of a mafia kingpin. The burden is now on a judge who is an expert of the legal system and has to bend the law to protect his son from all consequences. Your Honor is available to watch in India on Voot.
9) Ms. Hammurabi (Korea)
The reason we included Ms. Hammurabi in this list is that it is written by none other than the Chief Judge of the Seoul Eastern District Court – Moon Yoo Seok! The judge has written various legal dramas such as The Devil Judge. Ms Hammurabi is based on a novel written by Moon Yoo Seok himself. It is an account of the life of a judge and the various cases they come across. It is also about a partnership between a rookie and a judge who take on the legal system while being an integral part of it themselves.
8) Law School (Korea)
There is nothing more exciting than a murder thriller set in a school full of law students. A Professor is found dead on the school premises. The accused Professor is innocent but has been arrested under murder charges. It is now in the hands of the other law students to work together and prove his innocence. Law School is available in India to watch on Netflix.
7) Criminal Justice (India)
We all fell in love with Vikrant Massey and Pankaj Tripathiin Mirzapur. Catch them again together in this Indian thriller based on the UK show Criminal Justice. Aditya Sharma, a cab driver, is accused of murder. He has to depend on Madhav Mishra, a street-smart lawyer, to prove his innocence. The comedic timing of Pankaj Tripathi mixed with the moving performance of Jackie Shroff, Criminal Justice is the pinnacle of Indian Legal Thrillers. Criminal Justice is available in India on Hotstar. If you wish to watch a new adaptation we also recommend The Night Of starring Riz Ahmed, also available on Hotstar.
6) Goliath
Who does not like a good revenge drama? Now mix that genre with a blend of legal thrillers. You get Goliath. Starring the great Billy Bob Thornton, Goliath is a show about a disgruntled and alcoholic lawyer, Billy McBride, who has lost his fame and credibility. In order to get an act of petty revenge on the law firm that he helped create, Billy McBride takes up a wrongful death lawsuit and unknowingly uncovers a vast conspiracy. Goliath is available to watch in India on Amazon Prime Video.
5) Boston Legal
One can call this the OG legal show. Boston Legal is an American comedy-drama series about Alan Shore, played by James Spader. Alan Shore is a smart and charming lawyer who is great with words. He teams up with Denny Crane and runs a successful law firm that wins several civil cases using their over the top and sometimes unethical approaches. We recommend you to watch The Practice which is the original show Boston Legal is based on. Boston Legal is available to watch in India on Hotstar.
4) Suits
Do we really need to introduce this show? It is the fan favourite of every lawyer and law student. Follow the lives of Harvey Specter and Mike Ross who take upon several cases in one of the biggest firms of New York. The only problem is, Mike Ross has a secret that no one can find out. Suits is available to watch on Netflix in India.
3) American Crime Story – The People vs OJ Simpson
The most realistic show on this list. The People vs OJ Simpson is about the murder case that shook the media and the world. It is about the trial of the football star, OJ Simpson. OJ Simpson was accused of murdering his wife Nicole Brown Simpson. The murder trial that took place after is one of the most historic events known in legal history. American Crime Story is available to watch on Netflix in India.
2) Spiral (France)
Spiral is a French TV Show that will give you an insight to the working and lives of lawyers, judges and policemen of the Palais de Justice, Paris, France. Spiral is a unique show and one of the most underrated foreign legal shows known to us.
1) Better Call Saul
Image mentioning Walter White and Saul Goodman in the same article. Better Call Saul is a spin-off based on the fan favourite character of Breaking Bad. Follow the life of James McGill and his transformation into the Saul Goodman that we know and love. Better Call Saul will provide you with the experience of a good legal thriller mixed with the vibe of Breaking Bad. Better Call Saul is available to watch on Netflix in India
With this, we would like to conclude the top picks of our Top 10 favourite Legal TV Shows. So what are you waiting for? Happy Binging!
YLCC would like to thank Advay Vora for his valuable insights in this article.
