20 TV lawyers you definitely want defending you

Everyone forgets that Olivia Pope technically is a lawyer. Though the bulk of her career hasn’t been spent practicing law, she’s still one of the sharpest legal minds in all of Washington, D.C. If anyone could get you off, it’s her. 

One of the first lawyers in TV history, Perry Mason is a pop culture icon. In the 1960s, Perry was getting his clients freed of murder charges every week. At a time when the Los Angeles Police Department was facing corruption accusations in real life, Perry was fighting corruption on television. 

Will Gardner was the best character and the best attorney on The Good Wife, bar none. He was loyal, but not to a fault, and he put the facts above his emotions. He earned his reputation as a great lawyer. 

If you’re getting divorced, you want Arnie Becker as your representation. The L.A. Law attorney will get you the settlement you deserve. Or maybe the settlement you don’t deserve. But he’ll get you what you want. 

Harvey Specter has shown that he’s not afraid to push legal boundaries to get what he wants, but that’s exactly why you’d want him defending you. He’ll do whatever it takes to clear your name. 

William Shatner was so good at playing Denny Crane that it was almost hard to believe he was acting. And Denny claims to have never lost a case, so hiring a lawyer who’s batting 1,000 seems like a pretty safe bet. 

It’s fun to see legal battles happening in Boston, especially when Bobby Donnell is on one side of the case. Bobby had internal struggles to face within his profession, but that just made him a better attorney. 

Clair Huxtable lives life like she’s in the courtroom, but in the best way possible. She’s also got the strength and warmth of a great mother. All in all, that makes for a fantastic lawyer. 

Ally McBeal’s personal life is a bit of a mess, but that’s all the more reason to hire her as your lawyer. She gets just how insane life can be, and that’s an underrated quality in an attorney. 

If creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky, and ooky are words you want to describe your attorney, there is no one better suited for the job than Gomez Addams. Gomez would undoubtedly make you wonder whether he’s had crimes of his own to atone for in the past, but that doesn’t mean he’s not good at his job. 

Ben Matlock was such a good TV lawyer that network TV ordered a gender-swapped revival with Kathy Bates as the eponymous attorney. Whether Bates or Andy Griffith at your service, you’ve got a trusty attorney in Matlock.

Barry Zuckerkorn is absolutely ridiculous. In many ways, he has no idea what he’s doing as a lawyer. But in some ways, that’s why you’d want to hire him. He’ll get results, even if that means confusing the other side until they give him what he wants. 

Could anyone other than Glenn Close have brought Patty Hewes to life? The Damages character was sharp and intimidating, and if you had to hire a TV lawyer, she’d be at the top of your list. 

Any TV lawyer who’s also a great TV parent is someone you want on the case. Sandy Cohen is the best TV dad, so of course, he’s a great lawyer. He wants justice for the little guy, and while he won’t let anyone off the hook, he’ll make sure the punishment fits the crime. 

You may not always be comfortable with Jack McCoy’s tactics in the courtroom or some of his behavior outside of it, but you’ll more than likely be happy with the outcome. Jack was known for serving justice, and that’s definitely a quality you want in an attorney. 

Christine Sullivan is exactly who you want defending you in the courtroom. She was one of Night Court’s most beloved characters because she was honest while maintaining her optimism. 

You definitely want Annalise Keating on your case, especially if you’ve been accused of murder. She knows how to get away with it. Annalise could use some cleaning up in her personal life, but there’s no doubt she’s a good attorney. 

Maxine Shaw stood her ground in her own life, so you know she’ll stand her ground as your attorney, too. She’s fought for justice as both a private and public defender, so there’s no way she won’t know what she’s doing. 

Saul Goodman is a guy you want on your side, especially if you’re guilty. No lawyer in all of TV history was better than Saul at finding loopholes. He’s also very well dressed, which somehow makes him a better attorney. 

Before Sandy Cohen, there was Uncle Phil. He was stern and had high expectations, but he cared for his kids and always reminded them to do what’s right. And clearly he was a good attorney — look at the house he was able to afford in Bel Air.