The 25 best movie and TV lawyers of all time

Many probably didn't know that the patriarch of the eccentric and somewhat spooky "Addams Family" is actually an attorney by trade. However, we rarely, if ever, see him practice law. It was noted that he never won a case as a rather poor defense attorney, a fact Gomez (brilliantly played by John Astin in the popular TV show) seemed to take pride in.

Arguably the most popular character on this long-running NBC series, Arnie (Corbin Bernsen) is a bit of an enigma. Just when he makes the viewer want to ring his neck for his ruthlessness, he turns around to do something completely heroic. That, in turn, makes his character intriguing. Back in the 1980s and into the '90s, fans could not wait to see what Becker was going to do from week to week.

It's the role that won Tom Hanks his first Oscar. Beckett was the brilliant lawyer living with AIDS, who sues the firm that recently promoted him and then fired him for what he believed was a wrongful dismissal because he was a homosexual dealing with a controversial incurable disease. Beckett is an immensely strong character who demonstrated that strength right to the end. 

One thing we like about the main attorney, or attorneys, in John Grisham's novels turned into movies, is that they are strong. Brigance (Matthew McConaughey) endures plenty (threats, burning crosses and his house set on fire) while defending a black man from a murder charge in front of an all-white jury, Yet Brigance stands tall throughout and is rewarded in the end.

A shyster of an attorney, Chiles (Phil Morris) represented Kramer in such cases as going after a coffee company, Sue Ellen Mischke, the Oh Henry! candy bar heiress, and the tobacco companies. He has a loyal secretary known only as Susie and is partial to the preferred, but never seen, Dr. Byson. Chiles, though, could not get the "Seinfield" gang off on their breaking of the "Good Samaritan" law in the series finale.

Now Dan Fielding (John Larroquette) was not a bad assistant DA in the Manhattan Municipal Court. However, he seemed more preoccupied with the ladies than the law, which considering the other characters surrounding him, did not make him too bad of a person. Fielding was pretty harmless, the butt of many jokes and quite entertaining.

One of the most famous fictional attorneys spanning literature, stage and screen, Finch (most notably and successfully portrayed by Gregory Peck) is there for the little man — and woman. He's a champion of civil justice in a time when such thinking was unacceptable in most parts of the country, especially the South. We know former President Barack Obama is a big fan.

Note: We can easily add Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski) on this list, but we'll go with Florrick in the lead role, played superbly by Emmy winner Julianna Margulies. To say Alicia has been through a lot isn't really saying enough. She has a corrupt husband and a lover she can't make up her mind about. She's smart, sassy and a good mother who continues to get back up no matter how many times she's knocked down.

It's easy to like Vinny (Joe Pesci), who is unabashed in his brass nature and quite confident despite needing multiple attempts to pass the bar exam. His Italian-American, New York-fueled accent and attitude fuel this comedy, and he's easy to root for while defending those "two yutes" charged with a murder they did not commit in the Deep South.  

Josh Charles was stellar in the role of Gardner, a shrewd lawyer and frequent object of Alicia Florrick's affection — for better or worse. Gardner is good at his job but also has his issues, usually with women. His complex relationship with Alicia can be frustrating and entertaining at the same time. In the end, Gardner didn't live long enough to see if he could truly make it work with Alicia. 

We were first introduced to Saul (Bob Odenkirk) during "Breaking Bad," and thrilled when he got his own stage to shine. Goodman is not really a good lawyer but more of a scam artist who still has a soft spot for criminals and pushes the edge of the law in both his practice and life. Goodman is fun to watch mostly because Odenkirk seems made for this part.

Voiced by the late, great Phil Hartman, Hutz was your typical ambulance-chasing attorney whom every town has and most tend to loathe. We learn that Hutz should not be trusted, considering his practice is located in a shopping mall under the name I Can't Believe It's a Law Firm!" Due to their modest income, Hutz is the preferred lawyer of choice for the Simpsons.

Despite what the egocentric, gung-ho Col. Nathan Jessup might think, Kaffee (Tom Cruise) certainly can "handle the truth." Even though the young, brash Navy lawyer had a history of taking the easy way out of cases via the plea bargain, Kaffee went toe-to-toe with one of the most intimidating Marines in film history and came out on top by proving he's a better attorney than he probably gave himself credit for.

There might not be a more empowering fictional female attorney than Keating (showcased by Emmy-winner Viola Davis). A criminal defense attorney and law professor, no matter how bad things get (alcohol, murder) for and around Keating, she's usually up to the challenge. Her confidence and subtle vulnerability actually mesh well. 

"Mac" was a badass in and out of the court. Sure, she had personal demons that plagued her throughout the lengthy run of this military law drama, but Sarah was a shark in the courtroom, especially when it came to research and going hard at whomever was on the stand. While MacKenzie (Catherine Bell) was a solid defender, her true strength came when arguing for the prosecution.

While she can probably do without the Vonda Shepard theme song and dancing baby, Ally McBeal is one of the most celebrated female lawyers in television history. Not to mention, she made Calista Flockhart a star. Ally might not have a lot of luck with love, but she is refreshingly vulnerable, yet still confident in her job and herself — most of the time. 

In the fictional Atlanta-area law community, there is not a better or more renowned defense attorney than Ben Matlock. Played by the legendary Andy Griffith, Ben does not come cheap ($100,000 fee), but despite his AARP appearance and old-school southern know-how, he's a shark in the courtroom and will go for the throat if needed. He's also a big fan of hot dogs, and he is rather cheap outside of the courtroom.

For 16 seasons, Jack McCoy presided over the "Order" part of the show, first as assistant district attorney and then district attorney. In his desire to see justice done he was often aggressive in his tactics, earning him the nickname "Hang 'em High McCoy," even while his personal life was often a mess (abused by his father, affairs with his female assistants). And Sam Waterston's performance as McCoy was so popular that he was declared a "Living Landmark" by the New York Landmarks Conservancy. 

One of the hardest-working lawyers in film history, McDeere (Tom Cruise) was highly sought after coming out of Harvard. However, he did not know what he was getting into when he signed on with a small Memphis law firm that was working with the mob. That still didn't stop Mitch, with the help of his friends and family, from taking them down.

Admittiedly, Miller (Denzel Washington) is homophobic upon first meeting the aforementioned Andrew Beckett. But this former ambulance-chasing injury lawyer realizes he has a chance to make a difference in Beckett's wrongful dismissal case. It's a juicy role and a character who shows his vulnerability early and grows stronger and passionate about the law and a human's rights as the movie goes on.

Arguably the most popular and well-known fictional lawyer in television or film history, "Perry Mason" defined the career of legendary actor Raymond Burr, who brought the famed defense attorney to life during a lengthy television run on CBS in the 1950s and into the '60s. While Mason took to the court on various mediums, it was Burr's portrayal that is most memorable.

A case of poor night vision kept "Harm" from fulfilling his dream of being a full-time Navy pilot. That's OK, because he's one exceptional lawyer. Though Rabb (David James Elliott) might be haunted by never really knowing his fighter-pilot father and his track record for love is pretty rough, he has great instincts as a litigator while being smart and cunning in the courtroom.

James Spader seems to stand out in just about any role he plays. His turn as Alan Shore, the talented lawyer whose moral values can be questioned at times, is at the top of the list of his stellar career. Though he's been known to boast a win-at-all-cost attitude, Shore is a champion of the underdog. He's also afraid of clowns, and his self-deprecating humor is quite refreshing. 

In a nutshell, Harvey is all over the place. Regarded as one of the best litigators in New York City, Specter (Gabriel Macht) can be ruthless but is intelligent both when doing things by the book or taking other means (favors, cohersion, etc) to win the verdict. His confidence is also appealing. And there might not be a lawyer on TV with a better knowledge of pop culture than Specter. 

As we came to learn, Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) is more than a pretty face filled with a kitschy vocabulary. One thing we learn about the underrated law dynamo is that when she puts her mind to something, she can get what she wants. Also, what seems like useless facts to most, can end up saving a client's life when used with a little deductive reasoning.