The 7 Best Fictional Lawyers

For when you need inspiration to work on your final coursework or just want a break from your family this Christmas holiday.

7. Miranda Hobbes from Sex and the City

With all of Carrie’s whining and the crying and the constant drama, Sex and the City isn’t exactly my favourite tv-series, not that I ever finished it.

One thing I did like though is career-driven and cynical lawyer Miranda. Among the other girls with their constant obsession with men, she was the voice of reason. Make her the star of her own TV-show and I might actually finish it.

Also, being a lawyer in one of the biggest cities in the world? That’s the dream, people.

Best quote: “I want to enjoy my success, not apologise for it”.

6. Saul Goodman from Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad being Breaking Bad is a reason enough alone to watch this programme, but there’s a reason that Saul got his own spin-off show. His sleazy mannerisms and scheming makes him a stereotypical TV lawyer, but also so entertaining to watch.

If you are interested in criminal law, but not procedural courtroom dramas, watch this lighthearted lawyer instead.

Best quote: “Some people are immune to good advice”.

5. Marshall Eriksen from How I Met Your Mother

Sometimes you just don’t want to watch another serious legal drama where a lawyer defends a murderer.

In the later seasons of HIMYM, we see Marshall trying to choose between continuing his well-paid corporate law position or pursuing his interest in environmental law. This comedy show makes for a good break from the intense law studies whilst still having some element of law in it.

It’s also nice to see a lawyer on TV who has time to hang out at a bar and drink beer – this is what it’ll be like eventually… right?

Best quote: “Boom! You’ve been lawyered”.

4. Harvey Dent from The Dark Knight

The District Attorney of Gotham has got a lot to deal with as the Batman world is filled with criminals. He spends his days in the court and deals with psychos like the Joker, and has perfect hair whilst doing so. A bit unrealistic? Perhaps, but no more so than a billionaire dressing up as a bat and beating up criminals.

It’s still awesome to see him crush the mafia witness in the courtroom scene at the beginning of the movie. If you are working towards becoming a prosecution barrister, Harvey Dent would definitely inspire you.

Just ignore the ending where he goes evil and starts killing people.

Best quote: “I don’t leave anything up to chance. I make my own luck”.

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3. Jessica Pearson from Suits

Yes, Meghan Markle’s Rachel Zane is pretty awesome too – but she doesn’t beat Jessica.

She’s female, black and the managing partner of the firm Pearson Hardman. Her powerful presence is highly enjoyable to watch on the screen as she takes no bullshit from the men around her. If that is not enough for you, her wardrobe alone makes the show worth watching.

If you want to be the boss of a law firm someday, look no further for inspiration. She will definitely inspire you to work harder to get to the top (at least, she does for me).

Best quote: “I don’t respond to threats. I make them”.

2. Martha Costello from Silk

Martha is another honest, female lawyer who priorities her career over her personal life. She might be more of an interesting watch for UK students as she practises English law.

As the diversity issue is becoming a heavily discussed topic in law these days, it is inspiring to see a woman working her way to the top.

Take a cue from her and defy the statistics telling that there is a minority of successful women in law.

Best quote: “They don’t make decent suits for women who are 14 weeks pregnant”.

1. Harvey Specter from Suits

Another Suits character and another Harvey. You simply cannot have a list of the best fictional lawyers and leave out this guy.

He is smarter than most other TV and film lawyers as he always tries to settle his cases to avoid the courtroom. This way, he can still control the outcome of the case without leaving it for the judge to decide. As pre-trial settlements and negotiations are way more common than taking the case to trial, this type of dispute resolution is more realistic as well.

Harvey is playful, ruthless, well-dressed and probably very unrealistic. Still, he is very entertaining to watch onscreen. It is always intriguing to watch him destroy witnesses on the stand and find convenient loop-holes in the law.

Best quote: “The only time success comes before work is in the dictionary”.

Feel inspired to ace your final assignments yet? Pro-tip: write some of these quotes on a post-it note and stick them everywhere in your room.

Published: 27/11/17 Author: Kristin Klungtveit

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