Hi, everyone.
I have an idea for a show (possibly dark comedy or drama) revolving around a lawyer breaking the law in a very specific way. As I don't want to put the underdeveloped idea out there on a public forum, I'll leave it at that for now.
My question is:
What lawyer shows (scripted, fictional) already exist? I know there is Better Call Saul (currently watching) and She Hulk. There are so many out there and I want to make sure my idea hasn't already been done. Please comment if you can to help me out! Thanks!
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Judging Amy and Daredevil come to mind.
However, there's an article on Wikipedia that might help you: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_drama
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Thank you, Marcel! I’ll look into those. I totally forgot about Daredevil, but definitely not within the realm of my idea which is why it didn’t come to mind. I appreciate the help!
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Amanda Ryan Knopp It's not your typical legal drama, that's for sure. But, the way the writers and the showrunners brought it to the table for us MCU fans, it was immaculately done.
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If you're interested, Charlie Cox does an incredible 5-minute monologue in the first season about facts and the absence of morality wherein. I could send you the clip if you'd like, for inspiration?
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Amanda Ryan Knopp
Lawyer TV Shows: www.imdb.com/list/ls028036726/
The Best TV Shows about Lawyers: www.imdb.com/list/ls058489550/
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The Good Wife (and its spin-offs) are some of the best lawyer shows available, highly recommend. Also Boston Legal, Suits, and Ally McBeal
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There's a new one coming: The Good Lawyer (2023, a spinoff of The Good Doctor). And, of course, there's Your Honor (2020, 2023) which has a lot of moral ambiguity (Michael Desiato (Bryan Cranston) is as naughty as Walter White from Breaking Bad).
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"LA Law"...probably beyond your time, but give it a try...
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Amanda Ryan Knopp my favourite was “Shark” with James Woods. I think my advice would be not to second guess yourself and make your mark in your own unique way.
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So, in a way it would be like "House M.D.", but for lawyers instead of doctors?
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Obviously, you haven't had many dealings with the legal system. There's a reason why Shakespeare wrote: ''The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers,'' in ''Henry VI. And to brighten your day, remember, Judges are lawyers who wear black robes, and politicians are lawyers who only work for rich people.
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Share the idea. What ppl cant steal is execution. The way you tell story is your originality! Thats why top writers like Shonda Rhimes, Sorkin make writing videos. They're not scared because they know their execution is better than field.
Anyways, whats the hook/twist that would make Readers pick your script to read in the long piles of scripts?
Here is an example :)
Kevin Laird is a Beverly Hills school teacher by day and a mystery man by night. Using his lambada dance moves to first earn the kid's respect and acceptance, Kevin then teaches them academics. But when a jealous student exposes Kevin's double life, his two worlds collide, threatening his job and reputation.
https://youtu.be/rF9EraHJGL8
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Amanda Ryan Knopp Boston Legal is another. But again, there are so many it would be close to impossible for you to watch every single one to make sure it's not like your idea. And if you're looking, you might become discouraged at whatever minute similarity you may find. I agree with Dan and Geoff. It's about the execution of the idea that will be uniquely you.
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So a lot of ideas are like other ideas, people frequently internalize ideas. If you're not intentionally trying to rip something off just try to write your story as best you can, showcasing your own style and let it speak for itself.
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Justin, you bring up a great point.
As Phil Anselmo from Pantera once said: "Steal from your favorites. Rip off as much as you can. That way, you can find your own style in time."
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Goliath is a good one!
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Thank you everyone for your comments! This has been incredibly useful. I believe my twist is original, after some research. I hope you can all see it come to life some day. (It’s pretty badass, if I do say so myself
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You're welcome, Amanda Ryan Knopp. Hope I can see it one day too. I like watching lawyer shows, especially ones with original twists.
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How to get away with murder.
comes to mind.
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All, certainly sounds interesting!
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Primal Fear and The General's Daughter are both good legal movies ... and the classic A Few Good Men ...well, it's Richard Gere, John Travolta, and Tom Cruise at their best.
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I mean the root of the idea is to have a protagonist choose to break the rules because it conflicts with either their personal integrity or their ambition, this is a common conflict. This shouldn't stop you from doing what you love. Write that first draft and see if it flows well and makes sense.
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i certainly like the idea, are we talking a really bad lawyer as in criminal? or someone that's just making a bit extra on the side, or helping out clients eg mafia or people he owes money too? However The Lincoln Layer movie/series isnt bad show - he was'nt actually breaking the law he was manipulating it to work for him
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We’re talking criminal but in the essence of vigilantism
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Daredevil is about a lawyer who's a vigilante, which is very much breaking the law. You've got a movie and TV shows.
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This is from a ChatGPT prompt for movies about legal profession
1. "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962)
2. "A Few Good Men" (1992)
3. "Legally Blonde" (2001)
4. "Philadelphia" (1993)
5. "My Cousin Vinny" (1992)
6. "Erin Brockovich" (2000)
7. "12 Angry Men" (1957)
8. "The Lincoln Lawyer" (2011)
9. "The Verdict" (1982)
10. "The Rainmaker" (1997)
11. "The Firm" (1993)
12. "Kramer vs. Kramer" (1979)
13. "Inherit the Wind" (1960)
14. "Fracture" (2007)
15. "Michael Clayton" (2007)
16. "Liar Liar" (1997)
17. "Devil's Advocate" (1997)
18. "Runaway Jury" (2003)
19. "A Time to Kill" (1996)
20. "Presumed Innocent" (1990)
21. "The Pelican Brief" (1993)
22. "Adam's Rib" (1949)
23. "And Justice for All" (1979)
24. "The Judge" (2014)
25. "The Accused" (1988)
These movies provide a variety of perspectives on the legal profession, showcasing different genres and exploring various themes related to justice, ethics, and courtroom drama.
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TV Shows with the same prompt:
1. "Law & Order" (1990-2010)
2. "Suits" (2011-2019)
3. "The Good Wife" (2009-2016)
4. "Boston Legal" (2004-2008)
5. "Better Call Saul" (2015-present)
6. "How to Get Away with Murder" (2014-2020)
7. "Ally McBeal" (1997-2002)
8. "The Practice" (1997-2004)
9. "Damages" (2007-2012)
10. "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story" (2016)
11. "Perry Mason" (2020-present)
12. "Suits" (2011-2019)
13. "The Good Fight" (2017-present)
14. "Franklin & Bash" (2011-2014)
15. "Murder One" (1995-1997)
16. "Rake" (2010-2018)
17. "Silk" (2011-2014)
18. "Criminal Justice" (2008-2009)
19. "The Defenders" (2010-2011)
20. "For the People" (2018-2019)
21. "Judging Amy" (1999-2005)
22. "The Guardian" (2001-2004)
23. "L.A. Law" (1986-1994)
24. "The Practice" (1997-2004)
25. "Bull" (2016-present)
These TV shows explore various aspects of the legal profession, courtroom drama, and the lives of lawyers, providing compelling storylines and character development.
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Just have to remember that ChatGPT doesn't have real time information after Sept 2021
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There's probably a lot of resources for finding films but I find this is kinda cool because it reminds me of spotify. You can make and find fav lists of movies. You can also search by year, genre, and from what I can tell there are a lot of episodic movies or limited series included in it. Anyway, if it helps in your quest for used plot lines...
https://letterboxd.com/