Legal Dramas are a famous genre amongst the masses because who doesn’t like a dose of suspense, out-of-the-box thinking, and twists? Badass lawyers are absolutely slaying their jobs. The insight into the legal world that leaves you desirous of becoming a lawyer or at least have you convinced that you could offer legal advice here and there.
The high-risk, win-or-lose situations always intrigue the audience, irrespective of the show being solely based on crime or the corporate world. The aspect of legal dramas that especially has viewers hooked and what eventually makes these shows interesting is the grey area between legal and illegal that is often explored in legal dramas that shows how loopholes can be found to turn the law in your favor.
In the list below, we will be ranking the best 15 lawyer shows you can binge-watch if you want to watch legal dramas. Remember that this list is subjective, so there can be a difference in ranking opinion, and it will be a mix of recent and old courtroom dramas.
1. Suits – (2011-2019)
It is a no-brainer that Suits takes up the top spot because, let’s be honest, who isn’t a fan of legal drama paired up with comic relief and a fair share of romance? Suits cater to a majority of the audience’s expectations with a badass lawyer in the form of Harvey Spectre (Gabriel Macht) at the front accompanied by Mike Ross (Patrick J Adams), Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman), and the likes of strong female characters such as Donna (Sarah Rafferty), Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) and Rachel Zane (Meghan Markel).
The story begins with Mike accidentally interviewing for a position as an associate for Harvey while hiding a suitcase full of marijuana. His knowledge and ability to think on his feet immediately intrigue and impress Harvey, who, despite being aware that Mike is not qualified for the job due to him not having a law degree, hires him.
They intend to keep this fact a secret, and the drama unfolding within the nine seasons includes the main leads struggling to keep this secret hidden while taking on cases and the outcomes of the professional jealousy Louis Litt harbors for Harvey.
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Seasons: 9
2. Better Call Saul (2015-2022)
This show is a prequel to Breaking Bad which follows the life of the iconic lawyer Saul Goodman, who is known as Jimmy McGill; he is a small-time attorney who is hustling to make a name for himself as he fights cases for low-income earners as clients and tends to win their cases for them. The show follows the transition of the character from Jimmy to Saul, who becomes a famous con man in Chicago who is notoriously known for being a corrupt criminal defense lawyer in Albuquerque.
If you are a fan of breaking bad and Legal dramas, this show is the one for you because not only will you be familiar with the characters, but you will also get little insights into the plot of Breaking Bad.
- Where to watch: Netflix and Prime Video
- Seasons: 6
3. Law and Order (1999 – ongoing)
Law and Order is an iconic and longest-running American legal drama show broken into two halves, an episode where the first half follows the investigation of the crime and builds up tension for the suspect and the hearing. The second half of the episode takes you on a trip to the hearing in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office with the Prosecution and Defence Counsel at work.
It is one of the best legal dramas to have aired, paired with its spinoff called “Law and Order; Special Victim Unit,” where it has withstood the challenge of becoming irrelevant and uninteresting after being on air for over 22 years. One of the reasons it had garnered so much attention and audience interest as it was the first show to tackle topics such as sexual assault and consent when it was considered to be taboo amongst the masses.
- Where to watch: Peacock Tv
- Seasons: 22
4. How to Get Away with Murder (2014-2020)
How to get away with Murder follows the story of Annalise Keating, played by Viola Davis, and the five students she has chosen to mentor. This show is a gripping thriller in which the lives of Annalise and her students get entangled with a complicated murder case, and these characters are forced to deal with situations worse than they had expected, along with facing the fallout of the case.
How to get away with Murder is more of a dramatized version of a court TV show that focuses less on the procedural and legal aspects and more on the drama and thrill. So if you are expecting to learn about criminal law, it’s best not to rely on the information given in this show.
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Season: 6
5. Boston Legal (2004-2008)
This show is a spin-off of The Practice,e but it is one of the rare circumstances where it has outdone the original show. It follows the story of Alan Shore (James Spader), who works in a high-end Boston legal firm that deals with both criminal law cases as well as civil cases.
If you are looking for a law show with comedy, this will be the one for you. The relationship dynamic between Alan and his colleague Denny Crane (William Shatner) makes sure to give you a hearty laugh while keeping you up to date with the legal mumbo jumbo.
- Where to watch: Hulu
- Seasons: 5
6. Scandal (2012-2018)
Although this show isn’t necessarily a legal drama or a court tv show, the story follows the character of Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington). Based on her legal knowledge, this former lawyer now advises people on crisis management. It would be essential to mention that the show focuses more on why Olivia is good at doing her job and why she chose to walk away from her career as a lawyer. So if you are looking for an overall thriller series with undertones of legal drama, you must watch Scandal.
- Where to watch: Hulu
- Season: 7
7. Matlock (1986-1995)
The show is famous for its courtroom drama and complex murder cases taken up by the lawyer Ben Matlack played by Andy Griffith. This Atlanta lawyer is dedicated to providing justice by identifying the true culprits. He is a highly sought lawyer as he always manages to win cases through his unconventional methods.
- Where to watch: CBS
- Seasons: 9
8. Bull (2016 – 2022)
Bull is a unique legal drama that doesn’t necessarily focus on the legal aspect and courtroom procedure. Instead, Dr. Jason Bull, played by Micheal Weatherly, is a psychologist who is the head of a jury consulting firm and assists his clients in selecting jurors for their cases. This way, he can help predict the jury’s behavior while assisting lawyers in planning and giving good arguments.
Bull gives a different look into legal drama and laws; it shows courtroom tactics and the psychology behind them.
- Where to watch: CBS
- Season: 6
9. The Good Wife (2009 – 2016)
This series follows the life of Alicia Florrick, played by Julianna Margulies, whose career had taken a back seat for the benefit of her husband’s ambitions. The character of Alicia is seen to be joining a law firm and practicing as a lawyer as she needs to provide for her family after her husband, a former state attorney, has been put behind bars due to a corruption and sex scandal.
- Where to watch: Paramount Plus and Prime Video
- Seasons: 7
10. American Crime Story (2016 – ongoing)
This show is based on real-life events and cases, and the first season was critically acclaimed for portraying the riveting O.G Simpson trial. The following seasons take up the assassination of Giana Versace and the impeachment of Bill Clinton. This is why this show will be perfect for you if you are a true crime fan and legal drama fan. It keeps you on the edge with proper courtroom drama and procedures.
This show makes an interesting pick as it takes up real-life cases, so if you are not a fan of fiction and want to see real-life enactment of courtroom dramas, make sure to watch it.
- Where to watch: Hulu and Disney+
- Seasons: 4
11. Perry Mason (1957 – 1966)
This iconic tv show takes you on a journey of the character Perry Mason (Raymond Blurr), a defense attorney who fights the cases of clients who have been wrongfully charged. This character takes on new cases every episode and is dedicated to proving his clients innocence, thereby solving the case by the end of the episode.
The popularity of this show has extended over the decades to this day as HBO has recently released an adapted miniseries of the same name.
- Where to watch: Paramount+
- Seasons: 9
12. Damages (2007 – 2012)
The show follows the lawyer Patty Howes who Glenn Close portrays. This show, unlike the others, takes its time in legal proceedings with in-depth research on how the world in the courtroom works. Each season takes up one case, and each episode builds upon the case instead of tackling a new one. So if you enjoy more of a build-up with an insight into an actual courtroom drama, this show will be the one for you.
The characters in this show are ruthless and will cross every ethical boundary as long as they end up on the winning side.
- Where to watch: Hulu
- Season: 5
13. The Practice (1997- 2004)
This series follows the exploits of various defense attorneys who are part of a Boston law firm that is struggling to stay afloat. The show centers around Bobby Donell (Ben McDermott), who starts as the sole senior partner of the firm. This show focuses on showing a conflict between personal morality and legal ethics with occasional light-hearted comedy.
So if you are looking for a realistic and not overly romanticized law show with some light-hearted moments, do watch The Practice.
- Where to watch: Prime Video and Hulu
- Seasons: 8
14. Goliath (2016 – 2021)
This show follows the character of Billy McBride (Billy Thornton), who is on a journey of redemption as a lawyer. The show uncovers the corrupt legal system that functions in a way to benefit the wealthy. Billy uncovers a deadly conspiracy while fighting a wrongful death lawsuit against a firm he helped create.
This series is the best choice for those who enjoy mystery thrillers along with legal drama.
- Where to Watch: Prime Video
- Seasons: 4
15. Your Honour (2020- 2023)
This series features Bryan Cranston as Micheal Desiato who is a Now Orleans judge whose life goes spiraling out of control after his son is involved in a hit-and-run accident, which is followed by a series of tough decisions he must make based on family loyalty, morality, and the justic systems limitations. This limited dramatized series gives a new outlook to the courtroom drama genre.
So if you’re looking for some exceptional performance and a short series that isn’t afraid of delving deep into the darker side of the legal world, you should watch Your Honour.
- Where to Watch: Hulu, Disney+, and Prime Video
- Seasons: 2
FAQs
- How Many series are there in Law and Order?
The Law and Order series comprises a total of 1316 episodes with a total of 62 seasons. There are different series under the following names; Law and Order, Special Victims Unit, Organised Crime, Criminal Intent, True Crime, and Trial by Jury.
- Which season of Suits is the best?
Generally, the second season of the show is considered to be the best as the suspense regarding Mike’s secret builds with Gina being in on it. There are also light-hearted comedic moments to help dissipate the tension that the firm’s co-founder Daniel Hardman adds.
- Is a Good Fight a spin-off of the series Good Wife?
Yes, Good Fight is a spin-off of the series Good Wife, which can be viewed as a standalone series.
Bottom Line
If you are a fan of crime thrillers and courtroom dramas, then we are sure you have something new to be watched. These shows are some of the best to exist in the legal drama genre, paired with different perspectives and baselines to cater to the varying tastes of the audiences. So if you want to watch legal dramas with a different spin, don’t forget to watch shows such as How to Get Away with Murder, Bull, and Your Honour.
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Bethany Wilson 
Sarah Durrani 
