Legal dramas are so engrossing that one could hardly ever think of their comparison with other genres. In essence, they portray the trial alongside the daily and sometimes bizarre lives of these workers. Since capturing our attention with unexpected verdicts in the byzantine mist of the judges’ rules and the bitter fights, such series have Scottish hand-down viewers week after week. Some of them predominantly humorously treat the matter, others emphasize the suspense of the characters, but all of them deal with concepts of justice and the flaws of the system. We can hardly leave out the mention of the 10 greatest legal dramas ever appeared on television, combining the classics, the winners of the last decade, and some shows that dared to defy conventions at one glance.
10. Ally McBeal
Ally McBeal would be the eccentric doppelganger of a legal drama if it had one. With the first few episodes setting the scene in the late 90s, the series followed Ally, a bright-eyed Boston lawyer, as she managed her work and family, and her lively fantasy. The show with offbeat humor and weird daytime activities (including the famous dancing baby) was unlike anything else on TV. It did not refrain from dealing with topics like gender roles and mental illness, many times both with humor and compassion. Add on a ragtag bunch of coworkers like John Cage and Richard Fish, and you get a series that broke a new visual frontier for the legal drama genre.
9. Perry Mason (2020)
Matthew Rhys, as a destitute private eye-turned-defense lawyer haunted by trauma and loss, is the picture that comes to my mind if I were to describe the Perry Mason rebirth on HBO. With its deep and dark, noir-inspired style, and based on the era of the Great Depression in Los Angeles, the show paints a picture of America of that time through its characters and storylines. The series, with its smoggy setting and multi-layered plot, is almost like a detective thriller rather than a procedural—not to mention that its court scenes are very powerful when they intersect.
8. Boston Legal
The creation of David E. Kelley, Boston Legal, admitted to being a satire, an outrageous comedic piece, and a pointed comment, mixed in a refined manner. Clever, brilliant, and ethically flexible were the characteristics of Alan Shore (James Spader), who was at intellectual loggerheads with the zany Denny Crane (William Shatner) in almost every episode of Crane, Poole & Schmidt. The show not only made people laugh but also dealt with different controversial issues like civil rights and political corruption, and, most of the time, with a bravery which would otherwise be rare among other TV series. With an equally impressive cast led by Candice Bergen, Boston Legal was able to show that legal TV dramas could be as entertaining as socially conscious.
7. Law & Order: SVU
One of the shows with a very significant impact on the history of TV, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, is hardly forgettable. For more than 20 years, it has centered on criminal cases involving violence, where the NYPD team assigned to these cases does everything possible to find a solution. Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) is at the center of it all, and she is one of the very few, if not the only, TV detectives who have remained consistently popular and highly rated over the years. The show has become a cultural reference to which others turn as it still holds, thrives, and is emulated owing to its “ripped from the headlines” style, emotional narrative, and survivors’ stories respectful portrayal.
6. The Good Wife
Bright, intricate, and forever captivating, The Good Wife tells the story of Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies), a woman who comes back stronger as a lawyer after her husband’s political scandal. Combining the melodrama of courtroom procedures with the thrill of political games, the series deals with issues of corruption, greed, and ethics. Although it’s not entirely a legal thriller, the writing was tight, the character arc (even more so for Christine Baranski and Archie Panjabi) was strong, and the ensemble cast delivered impressive performances. The Good Wife worked half as a legal thriller and half as a character study, bouncing the genre up a notch.
5. How to Get Away with Murder
When it comes to legal thrillers, Viola Davis definitely set the bar very high for herself with her performance in How to Get Away with Murder, for which she won the Emmy. The show masterfully intertwines the plotlines of murder mysteries with shocking twists and ethical dilemmas, all at an extremely fast pace that does not let the audience take their eyes off ot. The non-linear storytelling combined with unanticipated plot twists turned this show into a habit-forming one, and Davis was the anchor amidst the chaos with the raw, potent portrayal of a bright but tormented lawyer. It matches, hooks onto your addiction, and you just can’t stop binge-watching it.
4. Better Call Saul
This is the Breaking Bad prequel that made a funny, minor, accessory character, one of the most complex and captivating protagonists of all time on television. Bob Odenkirk’s Jimmy McGill—his metamorphosis into Saul Goodman—is at the same time tragic, laughable, and heart-wrenching. It’s not about the shady legal dealings with which the series revolves, but it’s a story about ambition, self-awareness, and the choice that leads someone to lose it completely. Impeccable storytelling, breathtaking cinematography, and evocative performances turned Better Call Saul zenith among the great legal dramas of all time.
3. Suits
High-octane and full of snappy wit, Suits made corporate law into a guilty pleasure. The show tracks Mike Ross, a super-smart college dropout with an unparalleled memory, who talks his way into a gig at a top-tier firm under the wing of Harvey Specter, the best closer. Beyond its high-gloss cases, Suits lived on relationships—mentorships, competitive friendships, love affairs—and examined office politics with humor and panache. It’s half law drama, half soap opera, and that’s what made it irresistible.
2. Goliath
One of his best performances, Billy Bob Thornton played Billy McBride in “Goliath,” which is a next-door father lawyer trying to come back to life. Each season, he is battling against these powerful beings—corporations, corrupt officials, or even his own inner demons—with cases that are both authentic and raw. Through gloomy cinematography, nuanced characters, and intense court scenes, the show depicts justice at its most fragile moments. It is grim, heavy, and a reminder that the law is not always about the truth—it is about who can present the story more convincingly.
1. The Lincoln Lawyer
Top of our list is The Lincoln Lawyer, an adaptation of Michael Connelly’s best-selling novel series. Mickey Haller, a defense attorney who runs his practice out of the back of his Lincoln Town Car, is brilliantly portrayed by Manuel Garcia-Rulfo. The legal realism and the dramatic intrigue are perfectly balanced, offering relevant and suspenseful cases. Haller, whether defending a star chef or revealing corporate fraud, is always winning the battle with charm and grit. Owing to its mix of personal turmoil and courtroom pyrotechnics, The Lincoln Lawyer remains vibrant, modern, and incredibly watchable.
Courtroom dramas are not only about whether the accused are guilty or innocent—they are about the human stories behind the verdicts. These 10 shows are the reasons the genre survives: they depict the tension, the stakes, and the very human side of the law. If you are there for the thrill of the case, the moral dilemmas, or the unforgettable characters, these legal dramas are the ones to watch as they confirm that justice makes for some of the best TV.