Our Most Memorable TV Lawyers
We read about lawyers in the newspaper or see them on TV defending their clients. While the news may give a, fairly, accurate picture of a lawyer – Hollywood doesn’t. We’ve seen our fair share of tough acting lawyers on TV, and we’ve seen some that make us question how they could have passed the bar. So we compiled a list of our most “memorable” TV lawyers:
- Jack McCoy – Mr. McCoy was a dedicated District Attorney in New York City who prosecuted some of the most stressful cases in the city. He was often described as a relentless and aggressive prosecutor. Often “bending” trail room rules, he would do everything in his power to make sure the guilty party was convicted.
- Perry Mason – Perry Mason was the white knight in a dark suit for those wrongly accused. This L.A. lawyer was the last saving grace for those whose good name was dragged through the mud. Mr. Mason would often uncover the true culprit through his clever and often relentless questioning.
- Lionel Hutz – Springfield is “blessed” to have the services of Lionel Hutz. Mr. Hutz is a stereotypical ambulance chasing lawyer who’s ethics and, often times, competency is questionable. Even though Mr. Hutz bumbles his way through court and has laughable defense strategies, he has won several big cases for the Simpsons.
- Saul Goodman – Better Call Saul! That was the slogan used by Saul Goodman that landed him two of his most exciting, and dangerous, clients Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. These two clients end up forcing Saul to change professions and go into hiding after being involved in a drug kingpin war and a major DEA investigation.
- Ben Matlock – Mr. Matlock is a country boy at heart turned lawyer. This criminal defense lawyer loves polishing his shoes, playing the banjo, visiting crime scenes, and winning cases. The pricey ($100,000 per case) lawyer is famous for his love of hot dogs and sharp, grey suits.
- Jackie Chiles – Mr. Chiles is Cosmo Kramer’s go-to lawyer. Having graduated from Stanford University and Dartmouth College, he is a well respected lawyer in the area. He is often seen in court with Kramer suing someone for some perceived injustice. He describes his lawsuit against the tobacco companies for Kramer as the “most public yet of my many humiliations” when Kramer settles out of court for a giant billboard in Times Square.
- Ted Buckland – Ted Buckland is the lead legal counsel for Sacred Heart Hospital. This bumbling lawyer puts an end to the stereotype that all lawyers are suave and confident. When he’s not being belittled by the Chief of Medicine, he’s hanging out with the “brain trust” or singing with his a capella group “The Worthless Peons”.
- Jeff Winger – Jeff WAS a practicing attorney until his law firm discovered that his degree was from Colombia (the country) and not Columbia University. He was a successful DUI/DWI attorney until the misunderstanding happened. He returned to college to get his degree and return to practicing law.
- Ally Mcbeal – Ally was a plucky, upstart lawyer located in Boston. She joined a law firm, run by her old college classmate, where this young lawyer learns the ins and outs of navigating her love life while also navigating the legal field.
- Marshall Eriksen – Marshall is a wildlife activist lawyer turned corporate lawyer turned wildlife lawyer turned corporate lawyer turned judge. Marshall and his wife Lily live in New York City with their three other friends, Ted, Robin, and Barney. After navigating the difficult legal waters of New York City and being appointed to a judgeship, he is later appointed to the New York Supreme Court.
Bradley Corbett
Bradley Corbett is a criminal defense attorney in San Diego. He graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo Utah in 2004. Later he enrolled at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego where he participated in a prestigious internship program with the Los Angeles County Public Defender. Since then he has handled over 2,000 cases.