The Lincoln Lawyermight be the most popular and acclaimed hit legal drama of recent years, but it’s far from the only TV show to take place in a courtroom. In fact, there are plenty of other legal-procedural series from the past two decades which also revolve around the exploits of a maverick lawyer handling high-profile cases. Some of these series actually provided inspiration for Mickey Haller’s portrayal as well as the defendants he represents inThe Lincoln Lawyer, while others have been influenced in turn by the landmark Netflix show.
AlthoughThe Lincoln Lawyeris based on Michael Connelly’s book series, Connelly’s novels have been adapted for the show by veteran TV crime writer David E. Kelley, whose name will feature prominently in this list. Kelley was an attorney himself before getting into television, which explains why he’s played an instrumental role in developing many of thebest and most authentic legal dramason TV today. Besides Kelley’s work, however, there are dozens of other brilliant shows about the law, several of which bear more than a passing resemblance toThe Lincoln Lawyer.
Boston Legal
Cast
Boston Legal is a legal comedy-drama series created by David E. Kelley and initially premiered in 2004. The series follows the exploits of the Crane, Poole & Schmidt law firm staff helmed by Denny Crane (William Shatner) and Alan Shore (James Spader) as the attorneys dabble into the legal gray area to take on cases deemed “unwinnable.”
Despite its slightly lighter tone,David E. Kelley’s noughties legal dramedyBoston Legalshares key similarities withThe Lincoln Lawyer. In addition to the show often taking time to focus on the personal dynamics between its characters outside the courtroom, its central protagonist, Alan Shore, is the prototype mercurial defense lawyer who refuses to play by the rules. Played byJames Spader in one of his best TV roles, Shore has laid the blueprint for Mickey Haller’sLincoln Lawyerpersona, as well asGoliath’s Billy McBride and numerous other rough-cut TV antiheroes within the crime genre.
David E. Kelley actually studied and practiced law in Boston, before moving to Los Angeles to start his career as a full-time writer and TV producer.
Alan Shore frequently provides the ire of superiors at his legal firm, Crane, Poole & Schmidt, by using illicit methods to acquire the evidence he needs to win cases. Nevertheless, his irrepressible boss Denny Crane ultimately respects Shore and tolerates his unorthodox approach to practicing law, while the two of them share a touching friendship outside of work. Their bondmirrors the relationship between Mickey Haller and David “Legal” Siegel inThe Lincoln Lawyer, except that Legal doesn’t have to work with Mickey in the same law firm.
The Good Fight
The Good Fight was created for the streaming service CBS All Access and was created by Michelle King, Robert King, and Phil Alden Robinson. The series ran for six seasons between 2017 and 2022. As a direct sequel to The Good Wife, the series follows the trials and tribulations of lawyer Maia Rindell.
The Good Fightisanother show that centers on a maverick lawyer, although Christine Baranski’s protagonist Diane Lockhart never turned her back on the profession, as Mickey Haller did before the events ofThe Lincoln Lawyer. Lockhart and her protege Maia Rindell instead have their backs against the wall from the very start of the show, after they’re forced out of Lockhart’s out law firm via a financial scam.
The Good Fightis by far the most topical and political of any legal drama released in recent years, as it grapples with the themes of racism and sexism both inside and outside the legal profession. The show’s also very much grounded in the real world, with storylines based on true events such as the MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements and theRoe Vs. Wade reversal featured acrossThe Good Fight’s six seasons. The series often has the feel of a mockumentary, as it incorporates elements of behind-the-scenes political intrigue and televisual reporting into its episodes.
The Night Of
The Night of is a TV mini-series revolving around Nasir ‘Naz’ Khan, a young college student who, after partying with a woman, finds her stabbed to death in his room the following morning. Riz Ahmed stars as Naz alongside John Turturro as his lawyer and Michael K. Williams as Freddy Knight, an influential inmate at Rikers Island.
Although it’s an eight-episode miniseries dealing with a single legal case,The Night Ofvery much follows the narrative structure of a singleLincoln Lawyerseason. The thrilling twists and turns in Naz Shah’s murder trial make the series an exhilarating watch throughout its total runtime of approximately 10 hours, and the ingenious legal maneuvers of defense attorney John Stone, played by recurring Coen Brothers collaborator John Turturro, give even Mickey Haller a run for his money.
The Night Ofis ultimately a TV show, yet like so many top-notch small-screen limited series for the streaming age, it has the look and feel of a cinematic classic.
The Night Ofis a sublimely constructed, many-layered legal mystery masterpiece, worthy of comparison with some of the best thriller movies of all time. It’s ultimately a TV show, yet like so many top-notch small-screen limited series for the streaming age, it has the look and feel of a cinematic classic. John Stone might not have the charm ofThe Lincoln Lawyer’s Haller, but he doesn’t have to whenThe Night Ofwraps up its story in one self-contained set of episodes. The miniseries is still one of the most intensely gripping dramas streaming on any platform.
Reasonable Doubt
Reasonable Doubt is a legal drama series centering on Jax Stewart, a brilliant but unconventional defense attorney in Los Angeles. As she navigates challenging cases and the complexities of her personal life, she often skirts the line between legal and ethical boundaries.
Reasonable Doubtisthe show on this list that’s perhaps most directly comparable toThe Lincoln Lawyer. The series follows the exploits of a defense lawyer based in LA, only Jax Stewart tends to work with more upmarket clients than Mickey Haller’s suspected criminals. Having wracked up two seasons and counting,Reasonable Doubthas entertained audiences and critics alike with its meaty plotlines and sharp dialogue. Emayatzy Corinealdi owns the show’s lead role like she was born to play it, while her legal team provides enjoyable subplots with clear parallels to Lorna, Cisco, and Izzy’s stories inThe Lincoln Lawyer.
It does feel as though Jax Stewart is very much intended to be a mirror image of Haller, with her ex-husband popping up in episode plots repeatedly, just asNeve Campbell’s character Maggie does inThe Lincoln Lawyer.Reasonable Doubtis the legal drama to watch for anyone who follows Mickey Haller’s story for his personal life rather than courtroom theatrics or the technical aspects of his profession.
Presumed Innocent
An eight-episode limited series based on the New York Times bestselling novel of the same name by Scott Turow. Starring Gyllenhaal in the lead role of chief deputy prosecutor Rusty Sabich, the series takes viewers on a gripping journey through the horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s office when one of its own is suspected of the crime. The series explores obsession, sex, politics, and the power and limits of love, as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.
Even though it was originally intended to be a one-off miniseries,Presumed Innocenthas been renewed for a second season, given how compelling the first one proved to be. LikeThe Lincoln Lawyer, the series is based on a book, which was first adapted for the big screen before finding its way onto a streaming platform.Jake Gyllenhaal plays a lawyer who’s also suspected of murder, just as Mickey Haller will be in season 4 ofThe Lincoln Lawyer.
Presumed Innocentis a stylish update on Alan J. Paluka’s movie adaptation of Scott Turrow’s original novel, with its courtroom scenes in particular coming in for special praise.
Gyllenhaal’s Rusty Sabich has to draw on his brilliance as a prosecutor to defend himself against charges that could lead to him spending his life in jail.Presumed Innocentis a stylish update on Alan J. Paluka’s movie adaptation of Scott Turrow’s original novel, with its courtroom scenes in particular coming in for special praise. The show’s characters might not be quite as sympathetic or three-dimensional asThe Lincoln Lawyer’s legal professionals, but it’s hard not get pulled in by its riveting plot, which thrives on the moral ambiguity of the drama’s principal figures.
Goliath
Goliath follows the story of Billy McBride, a once powerful lawyer who finds himself drawn into a wrongful death lawsuit against a formidable corporate adversary. As he and his team delve into the case, they unravel a dangerous conspiracy, leading to a high-stakes courtroom battle.
IfThe Lincoln Lawyeris fundamentally about the fortunes of Mickey Haller himself, then fans of the Netflix show will find his kindred spirit in Billy McBride, the protagonist of Prime Video’s legal dramaGoliath. McBride is a world-weary veteran of the legal profession with little-to-no faith in the justice system. What’s more,likeThe Lincoln Lawyer’s protagonistGoliath’s central characteris a recovering addict, who gets roped out of retirement and into representing defendants, against his better judgment.
Billy McBride is even more irreverent than Mickey Haller, and refuses to observe even the most basic manners of his profession, often provoking the ire of judges and legal opponents alike.Like the TV version of Haller, McBride is the creation of David E. Kelley, who surely drew direct inspiration from his work onGoliathto adaptThe Lincoln Lawyerfor Netflix. He worked on the shows back-to-back, starting on the latter just as the former was coming to an end.
In fact, it’s hard to imagine the Mickey Haller we see inThe Lincoln Lawyertoday existing without Billy McBride blazing a trail before him. The Netflix sensation has drawn inspiration from various sources, the obvious being Michael Connelly’s own approach to writing legal fiction. YetGoliathis probably the closest thing toThe Lincoln Lawyerthat came before it, and is a series that virtually all of its fans are bound to enjoy.
The Lincoln Lawyer
The Lincoln Lawyer: This legal drama follows Mickey Haller, a Los Angeles defense attorney known for operating from his Lincoln Town Car, as he revives his career after an accident by taking on a high-profile murder case. The series explores challenges within the justice system and Haller’s pursuit of truth.
