Legal drama

Legal drama is a specific genre of film and television. It focuses on narratives regarding legal practice and the justice system. The American Film Institute defines courtroom drama as a genre where the system of justice plays a critical role in the story. These stories often follow the lives of attorneys, defendants, or plaintiffs. A defendant is the person accused of a crime. A plaintiff is the person bringing a case to court. This genre is distinct from police crime dramas or detective fiction. While detectives investigate and solve crimes, legal dramas focus on the law. The focal point is often events occurring within a courtroom. However, the stories may also include jury deliberations or work done at law firms.

Legal dramas are built around complex themes and moral dilemmas. These dilemmas often mirror the difficult choices found in real life. The American Bar Association Journal suggests people enjoy these stories because they show human vulnerability. Even without car chases or guns, these shows maintain strong followings through moral intrigue. Some stories explore miscarriages of justice, such as people wrongly convicted of crimes. Other plots involve the moral implications of police misconduct. This might include the tampering with evidence. Many dramas focus on the attorney's perspective when facing these difficulties. For example, the series The Practice shows the struggle of defending clients believed to be guilty.

As public policy and laws change, the themes in legal dramas change too. These stories often reflect politicized issues of their time. The 1960 film Inherit the Wind explored the legality of a Tennessee statute regarding teaching evolution. The 1992 film A Few Good Men examined the psychology of following superior orders. The film Philadelphia addressed homophobia and the fear surrounding HIV/AIDS carriers. In 1996, The People vs. Larry Flynt looked at issues of obscenity and freedom of speech. The film You Don't Know Jack portrayed the legal actions involving euthanasia services. Racial injustice also remains a common theme. This can be seen in films ranging from To Kill a Mockingbird in 1962 to Marshall in 2017.

Legal drama in American film has an extensive history. One of the earliest examples was the 1908 film Falsely Accused! The 1950s and 1960s were a very productive era for the genre. Notable films from this time include 12 Angry Men and Witness for the Prosecution. Other important titles include I Want to Live! and Anatomy of a Murder. The film 12 Angry Men is considered a cornerstone of the genre. It was nominated for three different categories at the 30th Academy Awards. It also appears on half of the AFI 100 Years... series lists. These lists celebrate the greatest films in American cinema.

Another cornerstone of the genre is the film To Kill a Mockingbird. This film received immense acclaim and won three Academy Awards. It received eight total nominations at the 35th Academy Awards. The film appears on seven of the ten AFI lists celebrating great films. It even ranks as the best courtroom drama on those lists. The Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. This is because the film is culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. Other countries also developed this genre early in the 1900s. The French silent film The Passion of Joan of Arc was released in 1928. Some films even focus on the anxiety of entering law school, such as Paper Chase.

Television has offered many different types of legal stories. Early American programs included Perry Mason and Matlock. More recent serious dramas include Law & Order and The Good Wife. There are also legal comedy dramas like Ally McBeal and Boston Legal. The show Suits became very popular during the 2010s. Better Call Saul also gained popularity after its first season in 2015. Legal dramas are seeing increased demand from the public. They are also beginning to feature stronger female leads. In the United Kingdom, viewers watch British courtroom dramas like Rumpole of the Bailey. These shows are broadcast by networks like the BBC and ITV.

Many practicing lawyers believe legal dramas create misconceptions about the law. These inaccuracies often exist to make the story more interesting. For instance, dramas emphasize trials to create conflict. In reality, the vast majority of civil and criminal cases in the United States are settled out of court. Dramas may also disregard actual trial rules to increase tension. They might show lawyers acting as heroes or as sleazy, distrustful characters. In real life, lawyers must remain neutral to the law. Their job is to ensure every person receives a fair and equal trial. US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor noted that some film examples would actually result in a mistrial. In the film 12 Angry Men, jurors make assumptions that go beyond reasonable doubt. They also perform outside research and use unauthorized evidence. In a real courtroom, these actions would not be allowed.