Last Updated on August 24, 2025 by Alexandra Markin, Dip.Mgmt.St.
Looking for the perfect study break that still keeps your brain sharp? Legal TV shows offer the perfect mix of education and entertainment for law students, whether you’re deep in casebooks or just beginning your studies.
Covering courtroom drama to intense storytelling with complex characters, these TV shows are not only bingeworthy, but also provide sharp insight into legal strategy, ethical dilemmas and the day-to-day challenges of practicing law.
Even though I’m a Commerce student, watching lawyers work long hours with intense dedication always motivates me to push myself to my full study potential.
So whether you’re just starting your undergrad or not planning to be a lawyer at all, there’s so much legal insight to gain from the stories, characters and cases.
Best TV Shows for Law Students
Television legal dramas have been around since the late 1950s.
According to Smithsonian Magazine, the American legal drama Perry Mason (originally aired 1957-1966), sparked the birth of the legal drama genre we all watch today.
STREAM IT NOW: All students are eligible for a FREE 6-month trial of Amazon Prime Student. This includes access to Prime video which has an endless selection of tv shows for law students. Available to new sign ups only.
1. Perry Mason
YEARS AIRED: 1957 – 1966
NUMBER OF SEASONS: 9 (271 episodes)
TAKES PLACE IN: Los Angeles, USA
WHERE TO WATCH:
- USA (MeTV, FETV, Amazon Prime Video)
- Canada & UK (check local streaming services or get the Original Perry Mason DVD Boxed Set)
SYNOPSIS: The series follows defence attorney Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) as he defends clients accused of murder, often unveiling the true culprit during courtroom proceedings.
WHY IT’S WORTH WATCHING: As the pioneer in legal dramas, Perry Mason set the standard for courtroom storytelling, emphasizing legal strategies and dramatic revelations. The history of the series makes it a must-watch legal TV show for every aspiring law student.
2. Suits
YEARS AIRED: 2011 – 2019
NUMBER OF SEASONS: 9 seasons (134 episodes total)
TAKES PLACE IN: New York City, USA
WHERE TO WATCH:
- USA (Netflix & Peacock)
- Canada (Netflix)
- UK (BBC iPlayer)
SYNOPSIS: Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams), a brilliant college dropout with a photographic memory, impresses top Manhattan lawyer Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) and lands a job at a prestigious law firm despite never actually attending law school. Together, Mike and Harvey navigate complex legal cases while keeping Mike’s secret hidden from their colleagues.
WHY IT’S WORTH WATCHING: Suits explores the moral grey areas of high-powered corporate law. From navigating internal politics to confronting ethical challenges, it offers a layered look at life inside a top New York firm with witty dialogue and complex character development.
3. The Lincoln Lawyer
YEARS AIRED: 2022 – Present
NUMBER OF SEASONS: 3 seasons (30 episodes total)
TAKES PLACE IN: Los Angeles, USA
WHERE TO WATCH:
- USA, Canada & UK (Netflix)
SYNOPSIS: Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), is a charismatic defence attorney in Los Angeles who operates his law practice from his Lincoln Navigator. After inheriting a legal practice from a murdered colleague, Mickey takes on high-profile murder cases while navigating a painkiller addiction and professional challenges.
WHY IT’S WORTH WATCHING: Based on The Lincoln Lawyer book series by New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly, this series digs into Mickey’s unconventional methods, courtroom strategies, and the complexities of the legal system.
4. Law and Order
YEARS AIRED: Original series: 1990 – 2010, Revival 2022 – Present
NUMBER OF SEASONS: 24
TAKES PLACE IN: New York City, USA
WHERE TO WATCH:
- USA (Peacock, Hulu, NBC, YouTube TV)
- Canada (Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)
- UK (Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV)
SYNOPSIS: Law and Order is a procedural drama that presents a dual perspective on the criminal justice system. Each episode typically follows two parts: the first half focuses on the police investigation of a crime, and the second half focuses on the prosecution of the defendant.
WHY IT’S WORTH WATCHING: Renowned for its realistic portrayal of the criminal justice system by tackling contemporary legal and ethical issues, its unique format provides a comprehensive view of both investigative and legal processes, making it an invaluable TV show for law students to watch to understand the complexities of criminal law.
5. Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU)
YEARS AIRED: 1999 – Present
NUMBER OF SEASONS: 26
TAKES PLACE IN: New York City, USA (specifically based out of the NYPD’s 16th precinct in Manhattan)
WHERE TO WATCH:
- USA (Peacock, Hulu, NBC)
- Canada (Citytv, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video)
- UK (Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video)
SYNOPSIS: Law and Order: SVU follows an elite squad of detectives in the NYPD’s Special Victims Unit as they investigate and prosecute sexually oriented crimes. Like the original Law and Order series, each SVU episode has two parts: the first half focuses on the police investigation of the crime, and the second half focuses on the prosecution of the defendant.
WHY IT’S WORTH WATCHING: It’s a great pick for students interested in working on cases involving sexual violence.
6. Inventing Anna
YEARS AIRED: 2022
NUMBER OF SEASONS: 1 (9 episodes)
TAKES PLACE IN: New York City, USA
WHERE TO WATCH:
- USA, Canada & UK (Netflix)
SYNOPSIS: Inspired by the true story of Anna Sorokin, a Russian-born woman who posed as a wealthy German heiress (assumed name: Anna Delvey). The series follows journalist Vivian Kent and lawyer Todd Spodek as they investigates Anna’s elaborate cons, which involved deceiving New York’s elite out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
WHY IT’S WORTH WATCHING: Inventing Anna is one of my favourites on this list because it’s based on real events. It’s a compelling exploration of deception, ambition, and the allure of high society. For law students, this Netflix TV series provides insight into legal proceedings related to fraud and grand larceny, as well as ethical dilemmas faced by both journalists and lawyers.
7. American Crime Story
YEARS AIRED: 2016 – 2021
NUMBER OF SEASONS: 3 (29 episodes)
TAKES PLACE IN: Los Angeles, Miami, Washington D.C., USA
WHERE TO WATCH:
- USA (Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home)
- Canada (Disney+, Apple TV)
- UK (Disney+)
SYNOPSIS: American Crime Story is an anthology series that dramatizes some of the most notorious criminal cases in American history. Each season focuses on a different true crime event:
- Season 1: The People v. O. J. Simpson – Examines the 1995 murder trial of O.J. Simpson, exploring the legal strategies and media frenzy surrounding the case.
- Season 2: The Assassination of Gianni Versace – the 1997 murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace by serial killer Andrew Cunanan.
- Season 3: Impeachment – Focuses on the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal and the subsequent impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton.
WHY IT’S WORTH WATCHING: Each episode offers in-depth portrayals of complex legal cases, highlighting the important connection between law, media, and society. Every law student should have an awareness of some of the most famous criminal cases in the USA.
8. Extraordinary Attorney Woo
YEARS AIRED: 29 – 2022
NUMBER OF SEASONS: 1 (16 episodes)
TAKES PLACE IN: Seoul, South Korea
WHERE TO WATCH:
- USA, Canada & UK (Netflix)
SYNOPSIS: Woo Young‑woo (Park Eun‑bin) is a brilliant rookie attorney on the autism spectrum who joins a prestigious Seoul firm despite skepticism from colleagues. Armed with a photographic memory, creative thinking and high IQ, she tackles a variety of legal cases while the show explores flashbacks from her childhood and a budding office romance.
WHY IT’S WORTH WATCHING: Law students will gain an understanding of relevant social issues alongside neurodiversity and compassion, making the show both inspiring and uniquely educational.
9. The Good Wife
YEARS AIRED: 2009 – 2016
NUMBER OF SEASONS: 7 (156 episodes)
TAKES PLACE IN: Chicago, USA
WHERE TO WATCH:
- USA, Canada & UK (Paramount+)
SYNOPSIS: This legal drama follows Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies), who returns to legal practice as a litigator after her husband, a high-profile politician, is jailed for sex and corruption scandals. The show combines a case-of-the-week court storyline with Alicia navigating personal reinvention, firm power plays and family dynamics.
WHY IT’S WORTH WATCHING: Although no longer running, The Good Wife remains a must-watch TV show for law students as it covers complex modern themes: morality, feminism and digital privacy, with storylines involving cryptocurrency, drone warfare and online defamation. It won many TV awards for its sophisticated legal realism and dynamic performance-driven storytelling.
10. Better Call Saul
YEARS AIRED: 2015 – 2022
NUMBER OF SEASONS: 6 (63 episodes)
TAKES PLACE IN: Albuquerque, USA
WHERE TO WATCH:
- USA, Canada & UK (Netflix)
SYNOPSIS: As the prequel to Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul follows the transformation of Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) into Saul Goodman – a morally flexible criminal lawyer. Driven by ambition and complex relationships, Jimmy navigates legal twists, personal struggles and evolving ethics as he builds a controversial practice.
WHY IT’S WORTH WATCHING: The series explores the complex world of legal ethics, personal identity and the fine line between right and wrong. It’s a compelling case study for law students interested in the complexities of criminal defence and the dark side of the legal profession.
11. How to Get Away with Murder
YEARS AIRED: 2014 – 2020
NUMBER OF SEASONS: 6 (90 episodes)
TAKES PLACE IN: Philadelphia, USA
WHERE TO WATCH:
- USA, Canada & UK (Netflix)
SYNOPSIS: The show follows Annalise Keating (Viola Davis), a brilliant criminal defence attorney and sharp law professor who handpicks a group of standout students to work with her. What starts as a dream opportunity quickly spirals into a tangled web of sex, secrets and real-life murder. But beneath all the twists lies ambition, trust, and how complicated doing the “right thing” can get.
WHY IT’S WORTH WATCHING: This series gives an insight into the intensity of legal practice, from high-stakes defence strategies to ethical dilemmas that don’t always have clear answers. It explores what it means to navigate the pressure while holding onto your own moral compass. It’s also a reminder that law isn’t just about rules – it’s about people, power, and the choices that shape both.
Next Steps
Law students often spend so much time buried in readings, briefs and outlines that it’s easy to forget just how powerful storytelling can be in shaping the way we see the legal world – and winning your case.
These shows don’t replace what you learn in class, but they do help bring it to life. TV shows spark questions we might not read about in a textbook, like how power, privilege, and emotion are presented in real legal work. They also show that the law isn’t just a system – it’s more personal than most people realize.
Whether you’re watching for inspiration, curiosity or furthering education between study sessions, each of the shows on this list has something valuable to offer. It might surprise you how a fictional case can change the way you approach a real one, so consider this research…with popcorn.
RECOMMENDED READ:
- Looking for more study inspiration? Check out this list of Shows to Spark Study Motivation.
Comment your favourite law-related series below – we’re all looking for new bingeworthy dramas!
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