Top Legal TV Shows to Watch

In a serious profession like law, it’s important to still find time to relax and unwind. All work and no play can be a recipe for disaster that we would definitely like to avoid. As such, taking the time to watch a good TV show can be the perfect antidote. If your passion and interest in law stems outside of work, check out this list of the best legal TV shows to watch. Although some of these shows are no longer on air, they can still be found online or on popular streaming platforms. Check out the list below for some legal TV show recommendations!

The Practice (1997 – 2004)

This legal drama series focused on partners and associates operating out of a Boston law firm. It highlighted the conflicts between personal morality and legal ethics stemming from cases the firm was presented with. The show originally aired on ABC and ran for eight seasons. Some of the cast included Dylan McDermott, Camryn Manheim, Michael Badalucco, Steve Harris, Kelli Williams and Lisa Gay Hamilton.

Boston Legal (2004 – 2008)

This spin-off of The Practice centered around the Boston law firm Crane, Poole, and Schmidt. The firm mainly dealt with criminal and civil cases with the head partner and loose cannon, Denny Crane, running the office. The show often featured members of the firm trying to keep Crane (unsuccessfully) in check. The show ran for 5 seasons before ending in 2008. The cast included James Spader, Mark Valley, William Shatner, Candice Bergen, Rene Auberjonois and Julie Bowen.

Your Honor (2020 – 2021)

This American drama series premiered on Showtime back in 2020. Although it was originally ordered as a mini-series, the show was renewed for a second season in 2021. The show follows Bryan Cranston as Michael Desiato, a well-respected and prominent judge in New Orleans. His teenage son kills another teenager in an accidental hit-and-run collision. As the story unfolds, Michael discovers that his son murdered the son of a mafia kingpin. The show follows Michael and his son attempting to conceal the evidence while remains a high-profile judge watching the pieces of the story come together. The cast includes Bryan Cranston, Michael Stuhlbarg, Lilli Kay, Hunter Doohan, Sofia Black-D'Elia, Hope Davis, Carmen Ejogo, Chet Hanks, Lamar Johnson and Jimi Stanton.

Law & Order (1990 – Present)

Considered a staple in television, Law and Order follows New York detectives and prosecutors as they pursue justice for victims. The cases are usually taken from real life headlines, making for interesting and relatable episodes. Each episode shows the investigation, evidence being weighed, suspects being questioned and the process within the courtroom play out. The show was created by Dick Wolf, the creator of many other Law and Order spin-offs. The show has been on air for 21 seasons but there is no news on whether it has been renewed or cancelled for season 22. The cast includes Sam Waterston, S. Epatha Merkerson, Jerry Orbach, Jesse L. Martin, Anthony Anderson, Benjamin Bratt, Steven Hill, Elisabeth Rohm, and Fred Dalton Thompson.

Law & Order: SVU (1999 – Present)

Also created by Dick Wolf, Law and Order: SVU follows the detectives of NYPD’s Special Victims’ Unit as they investigate sexual crimes in New York City. As the nature of the investigations mainly focus on sexual abuse, the episodes can be quite heavy. However, the show’s ability to keep viewers engaged through the initial crime, investigation, and trial proceedings has made it one of the most successful and longest-running shows currently on air. The episodes also typically pull from real life political and societal issues, keeping the plots fresh and captivating. The cast includes Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni, Dann Florek, Richard Belzer, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, Stephanie March, B.D. Wong, Diane Neal, Tamara Neal, Danny Pino, Phillip Winchester, Dean Winters, and more. The show has been on air for 22 seasons, and it was recently announced that it had been renewed for season 23 and 24 on NBC.

How to Get Away With Murder (2014 – 2020)

Viola Davis plays the role of Annalise Keating, the brilliant and strong-willed defense lawyer in How to Get Away With Murder. Viola even won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The show was created by Peter Nowalk and produced by Shonda Rhimes. It follows Annalise as she teaches her first-year law students “how to get away with murder”. Pulling from her experience as a defense attorney, she selects a group of students to assist her in high-profile cases throughout the year. However, things take a turn for the worst when a real murder occurs and the students attempt to get away with it, with Annalise by their side. The show went on for 6 seasons before ending in May of 2020. The cast included Viola Davis, Jack Falahee, Aja Naomi King, Alfred Enoch, Liza Weil, Billy Brown, Matt McGorry, Karla Souza, Charlie Weber, Rome Flynn, Tom Verica, Conrad Ricamora, and Amirah Vann.

Damages (2007 – 2012)

Originally premiering on FX, this series followed Glenn Close as lawyer, Patty Hewes and her legal mentee, law school graduate Ellen Parsons. Each season featured a major case that the law firm would take on. The fact that each season focused on one case made this series unique because viewers were able to follow the progression and complexities of the case as though they were working through it with the firm. The show remained on air for 5 seasons and included cast members Rose Byrne, Glenn Close, Tate Donovan, Zeljiko Ivanek, Ted Danson, Noah Bean, Peter Facinelli, John Goodman, and Chris Messina.

The Good Wife (2009 – 2016)

Julianna Margulies plays Alicia Florrick, the wife of Cook County’s State Attorney who returns to her law career after her husband becomes involved in a public sex and political corruption scandal. She practices defense law and takes charge to provide for her family while her husband remains in jail. This legal drama was a hit while on air and showcased different story arcs playing out over multiple episodes and seasons. The show ran for 7 seasons on CBS. The cast included Julianna Margulies, Archie Panjabi, Matt Czuchry, Josh Charles, Christine Baranski, Alan Cumming, Chris Noth, Graham Phillips, and Zach Grenier.

American Crime Story (2016 – Present)

Airing on FX, this true crime television series presents each season with a focus on a salacious, real-life crime story. Played by actors, the show interprets real events and adds an element of entertainment to it. The show’s first season gained popularity by following the murder trial of O.J Simpson, titled The People v. O.J. Simpson. The second season, titled The Assassination of Gianni Versace, chronicled the murder of world-renowned designer Gianni Versace. The third instalment of the series focused on the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal and was titled Impeachment. There are talks of a fourth season, but a premiere date has not been released. The first season of the show was incredibly successful and that cast included Cuba Good Jr. as O.J. Simpson, Sarah Paulson, Sterling K. Brown, Kenneth Choi, David Schwimmer, John Travolta, Courtney B. Vance, Christian Clemenson, and Bruce Greenwood.

Suits (2011 – 2019)

This show followed Harvey Specter, a big-time corporate lawyer in Manhattan and his team, as they navigated the dynamics of the firm while representing their clients. The other main character of the show was Mike Ross, a young man who used his amazing memory to talk his way into a job at the law firm. He was able to successfully nab the opportunity to work closely with Harvey despite the fact that he dropped out of school and never attended law school. Each episodes followed the development of lawsuits and closing cases while Mike attempted to hide his secret. The show was on for 9 seasons before ending in 2019. The cast included Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Megan Markle, Sarah Rafferty, Gina Torres, Rick Hoffman, and Katherine Heigl.

Better Call Saul (2015 – 2022)

This spin-off of Breaking Bad was created by Vince Gilligan. The show was intended to be a prequel to Breaking Bad, focusing on Saul Goodman, the show’s criminal defense attorney. Played by Bob Odenkirk, the character Jimmy McGill (who eventually becomes Saul Goodman) was created to follow the moral and ethical dilemmas of the popular lawyer and how he came to be who he was. The episodes followed both Saul and Mike Ehrmantraut, a retired police officer who became closely affiliated with the Juarez drug cartel. The sixth and final season of the show premiered on April 18, 2022.

 Perry Mason (2020 – Present)

This show is based on the older show by the same name which aired back in 1957. The newer version was created by Erle Stanley Gardner and premiered in 2020 on HBO. The show focuses on famed defense investigator, Perry Mason. Based in 1932 Los Angeles, the show follows Perry Mason as he struggles with the traumas associated with the Great War and his fresh divorce. He is eventually hired to assist in a child kidnapping trial where his investigations have severe consequences for himself and those around him. The show has had one season so far and it was recently confirmed that there would be a second season. The cast includes Matthew Rhys, Tatiana Maslany, Chris Chalk, Katherine Waterston, Veronica Falcon, and John Lithgow.

L.A Law (1986 – 1994)

This American legal drama ran for eight seasons, ending on May 19, 1994. The show followed the partners, associates, and staff working in a Los Angeles law firm. The show was known to reflect the social and cultural ideologies that were occurring in real life during the 80s and 90s. Many of the cases featured on the show dealt with controversial issues like racism, sexual harassment, domestic violence, and abortion. The show was also known for its great ability to parallel these serious issues with witty humour. The cast included Corbin Bernsen, Jimmy Smits, Harry Hamlin, Susan Dey, Jill Eikenberry, Blair Underwood, and Alan Rachins.

Judge Judy (1996 – 2021)

This long-running courtroom show featured Judge Judith Sheindlin as the judge hearing multiple cases surrounding a variety of issues. Each episode showed Judge Judy presiding over small claims court matters. We are able to see her question both the complainant and respondent before providing a final ruling. Judge Judy gained immense popularity because of her unparalleled no-nonsense wit and approach to the parties and analyses of the claims. The show finally ended in 2021 after 25 seasons. Judge Judy now has a new show called Judy Justice, which has a similar premise to Judge Judy.  It premiered in November 2021. The main cast included Judge Judith Sheindlin, Petri Hawkins-Byrd and Jerry Bishop.

Divorce Court (1999 – Present)

Another popular courtroom program was Divorce Court. As the title suggests, the show displays real-life couples that have plans to divorce. The soon-to-be exes explain their stories and reasoning for divorce to the judge, who then provides a final ruling and settlement. The episodes showcase both the common and uncommon issues that arise in divorce proceedings. Since the parties are real individuals, they undoubtedly present their case with their own personalities and quirks. This adds both comedic and entertaining elements to the show. The presiding judges have changed over time, but the main judges included Judge Mablean Ephriam, Judge Faith Jenkins, and Judge Lynn Toler. The show has been on for 39 seasons and it was recently announced that Star Jones would be taking over as the presiding judge for the show’s 40th season in Fall 2022.

For the People (2018 – 2019)

Created by Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers, this show followed members of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, aka “Mother Court”. The district court is considered the oldest in the nation and served as the focal point for the new, fresh-faced lawyers that joined the department. The episodes followed the lawyers as they worked high-profile prosecution and defense cases. The show ran for two seasons and ended in 2019. The cast included Rege-Jean Page, Britt Robertson, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Wesam Keesh, Ben Rappaport, Hope Davis, Ben Shenkman, Vondie Curtis-Hall, and Charles Michael Davis.

For Life (2020 – 2021)

This show was inspired by the true-life events of Isaac Wright Jr. The show followed an imprisoned man who became a lawyer while serving his time. He channeled his energy and time into litigating cases for other inmates while fighting to overturn his own life sentence for a crime he did not commit. The main character also developed a relationship with a female prison warden – which shone light on the flaws within the U.S justice system. The show aired for two seasons and ended in 2021. The cast included Nicholas Pinnock, Indira Varma, Joy Bryant, 50 Cent, Peter Greene, and Mary Stuart Masterson.

In Contempt (2018)

This show followed Gwen Sullivan, a lawyer working in a legal aid office in New York City. She dedicated her time to fighting for clients that were not able to afford their own counsel. She was deemed an outspoken public defender that was passionate about the rights of her clients. Outside of work, she worked to manage her relationship with her ex-partner/newly appointed supervisor as well as the opinions of her hard-to-please father/former judge. The show aired for one season on BET. The cast included Megan Hutchings, Erica Ash, Christian Keyes, Mouna Traore, Daniel Kash and Tobias Truvillion.

Have you watched any shows on this list? What are your favourite legal shows to watch?