Best Courtroom Television Series Ranked

Ranking the best courtroom television series

While it may appear that legal dramas on television have only recently become big news, we are going to have to object, your honor. In 1957, Perry Mason debuted, and the courtroom TV show was born. Since then, audiences have been treated to many well-researched, brilliantly written legal series. Which one is the best? Does Perry Mason even make it to the list?

Here are the 10 best courtroom TV shows. Does your favorite fall on this list? 

10. Perry Mason (1957-1966)

Well, of course, Perry Mason (not the remake) makes this list. How could it not? This was the series that started it all. Raymond Burr starred at the titular Mason, a defense attorney whose goal was to prove his client’s innocence even before the case would go to a jury trial. The premise was simple, and one copied by another famous legal show. The first half of an episode would set up Mason’s client and the crime, while the second half of the episode follows Mason’s legal maneuverings and courtroom battles. 

9. The Good Wife (2009-2016)

Julianna Margulies starred as Alicia Flowick in this exceptional courtroom TV series. The series was a journey for her character as she went about recovering from her husband, a former state attorney, who was caught in a sex scandal. Now that he is behind bars, Alicia must provide for her family by returning to work as a lawyer. The Good Wife found most of its weekly cases grounded in reality as it uses real-life events as its influence. 

8. Suits (2011-2019)

With Suits, you get it all. Comedy, romance, and most importantly, a good legal debate. Patrick J. Adams is Mike Ross, a quick thinker who possesses a photographic memory. It is this memory and a briefcase full of marijuana that leads him to an interview with super lawyer, Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht). Harvey is immediately impressed with Mike’s supreme knowledge of the law and decides to hire him, even knowing that Mike does not possess a degree to practice law. The series then follows Mike and Harvey through many legal issues while they continue to try to keep Mike’s secret.

7. Damages (2007-2012)

Comparatively speaking, Damages was a short-lived courtroom TV series. The Glenn Close-led drama ran for five seasons but only claimed 59 episodes. This excellent series featured Close as Patty Hewes, a ruthless lawyer who takes on recent law school graduate Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne) as her newest protégé. Unlike many of the other courtroom TV shows, Damages would take on one case per season, seeing it through from the beginning to its sometimes illogical conclusion. The drama was high, and Glenn Close was on her A-game. 

6. How to Get Away with Murder (2014-2020)

How to Get Away with Murder is Shonda Rhimes’ answer to those medical or detective shows where the main character becomes the mentor to a group of people. This one has the excellent and Academy Award-winning actress Viola Davis star as Annalise Keating, a criminal defense lawyer and law professor who takes five law students to mentor. The stakes are high when Keating and the students get caught up in their own murder mystery, and the various plot twists make this courtroom TV series one to watch.

5. The Practice (1997-2004)

The Practice was created as the antithesis of the next show on our list. Instead of glamourizing legal dramas, this courtroom TV series went for the realistic approach and did it well. Going after deeper themes and not fluffing anything up, The Practice also took on personal morality, which can be tough when talking about lawyers. David E. Kelly created this series that stars Dylan McDermott, Kelli Williams, Lara Flynn Boyle, Steve Harris, Camryn Manheim, and Michael Badalucco.

4. L.A. Law (1986-1994)

Okay, so it may not have been the hardest-hitting courtroom TV series, but it certainly was one of the best. L.A. Law ran for eight wonderful seasons and followed an ensemble cast at the prestigious law firm of McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney, and Kuzak. Steven Bochco (Hill Street Blues, NYPD Blue) created the series that starred Harry Hamlin, Corbin Bersen, Susan Dey, Jimmy Smits, Jill Elkenberry, Alan Rachins, Michael Tucker, Susan Ruttan, and Richard Dysart.

3. Law & Order (1990-2010 & 2021 - current)

If you are looking for one of the most famous of the courtroom TV shows, then look no further than Law & Order. The series is responsible for numerous spin-offs and is one of the longest-running television series ever. The lawyer drama was so popular that after 20 years on air, it took 11 years off before once again finding the airwaves and attracting a brand-new audience. Sam Waterson joined the case in season 5 and returns for the updated version. He is joined by Jeffrey Donovan, Camryn Manheim, and Hugh Dancy.

2. Boston Legal (2004-2008)

Law & Order leads the way with its numerous spin-offs, and Boston Legal is a spin-off of its own, coming from the highly rated The Practice. What makes this courtroom TV series unique is that it is one of the rare instances that the student surpasses the teacher. Once again, David E. Kelly created this masterful legal drama that saw William Shatner back in the saddle, joined by the always fantastic James Spader, Lake Bell, and Rhona Mitra. The series followed the lawyers at the Boston practice of Crane, Poole & Schmidt. Shatner shined as Denny Crane, the eccentric and flamboyant lawyer who takes Spader’s Alan Shore under his wing. It is drama-filled fun.

1. Better Call Saul (2015-2022)

Did you doubt that Better Call Saul would lead this list? Seven seasons’ worth of Bob Odenkirk in what amounts to a prequel of Breaking Bad is not a bad thing at all. Odenkirk reintroduces fans to Jimmy McGill, better known as Saul Goodman, who is a good lawyer and an even better, albeit former, scam artist. The series follows Jimmy and his lawyerly machinations expose the criminal underbelly of Albuquerque. The early highlights in this fantastic courtroom TV series are the duals between Jimmy and his brother, Chuck, played by Michael McKean. The series is riveting, funny, and fun to watch as Jimmy tries to put his scam artist title behind him while trying to turn respectable as lawyer Saul Goodman.