Lawyers in Movies and TV- The Good, The Bad, and The Bizarre

Lawyers in Movies and TV- The Good, The Bad, and The Bizarre

Lawyers pop up in entertainment pretty often, maybe because they make interesting characters, or maybe because people in fictional shows have extra-complicated lives and frequently need legal advice. Sometimes these lawyers are very good, sometimes they are very bad, and sometimes they are outright bizarre. Here are a few favorites.

 

The Good

Perry Mason in the TV series Perry Mason

Played by: Raymond Burr

Perry Mason is one of the most classic lawyers in television. He is an excellent defense attorney who never stops working until he has discovered truth. Mr. Mason is known for his uncanny ability to cajole confessions out of witnesses while they are on the stand. Perry Mason was not just a good person; he was good at his job.

Elle Woods in Legally Blonde

Played by: Reese Witherspoon

Elle Woods is introduced as a silly and shallow sorority girl, but she turns out to be a surprisingly capable attorney by the end of the film. Although she works hard in school, most of her legal prowess comes from her less conventional training. She uses her expertise in fashion and hair styling to prove that two of the witnesses in a murder case are lying. Her unique set of skills ends up setting an innocent woman free and sending the real killer to prison.

Marylin Delpy in The Social Network

Played by: Rashida Jones

Marylin Delpy is a pretty small character in a big movie, but she is observant and smart, and takes the time to make a connection with Mark. She is honest and straightforward with him, and because of this, she is one of the few people he listens to, and he ends up following her advice.

The Bad

Billy Flynn in Chicago

Played by: Richard Gere

Some may argue that Billy Flynn belongs in the good category, since he is particularly good at his job, but he is a particularly bad person. He is clever enough to get two of his clients off the hook in one trial, but he does it by fabricating evidence, manipulating people, and lying profusely. All Billy Flynn cares about is money, so instead of using his skillset to do good, he squeezes money out of sad, cuckolded husbands and uses it to get murderous women out of jail and back on the streets.

Jackie Chiles in Seinfeld

Played by: Phil Morris

Jackie Chiles represents Cosmo Kramer in a number of cases. One time they sue a coffee shop and another time they accuse Sue Ellen Mischke of causing Kramer to crash his car. Jackie is known for his use of long adjectives like lascivious, salacious, and egregious, but his extensive vocabulary doesn’t help him win cases. This is largely due to Kramer, who manages to muck up the works, but the fact that Jackie keeps taking him on as a client demonstrates a serious lack of judgment.

The Bizarre

Barry Zuckerkorn in Arrested Development

Played by: Henry Winkler

Barry Zuckercorn is such a bad attorney it is baffling. He is constantly unprepared and uninformed. In one case, he is so surprised at the number of charges against his client that he runs away; in another case he shows up without having read the plea bargain his client was offered. On one occasion, he encourages the Bluths to steal evidence from the prosecution, and when Kitty goes missing, he tells them to lie to the police.

Barry’s ineptitude extends to the rest of his life as well. One time, he is late for a hearing because he was a defendant in another court case the same day. Barry’s bizarre preferences and bad choices mean he is often embroiled in legal trouble himself. A lawyer’s personal life doesn’t always affect their work, but you don’t want an impaired driving defense lawyer who may be impaired on the job.

This is by no means a definitive list. Many good, bad, and bizarre lawyers were left out, so feel free to add your suggestions and favorites in the comments. Hopefully lawyers in movies and TV will keep us entertained for years to come.

Author Byline

Michael David is a freelance blogger who writes about a variety of topics including law and entertainment. To learn a little more about lawyers, visit Mackay and Company.

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