Obsessed with Law & Order? Here Are 10 Legal Shows You’ll Love Next

Je-Ree
May 20
4 min read

Three people in business attire are shown in a collage. The mood is serious, with a blurred office background. No text is visible.

The Best Legal Shows for Fans of Courtroom Dramas

So you love legal dramas and you have had your fill of the Law & Order franchise and are looking for some new courtrooms to enter into this summer. Well you have come to the right place.

The legal dramas on our list satisfy your cravings for courtroom battles, interesting characters and moral dilemmas.

Can you handle the truth? Here is our top 10 in no particular order.

1. The Good Wife

Three people in business attire stand solemnly behind a table with folders. Background features a modern office with frosted glass panels.

Why You Should Watch: The Good Wife follows Alicia Florrick, a woman who returns to her legal career after her politician husband’s scandal sends him to jail. Not to mention her ex-husband, Peter Florrick, is played by Chris Noth, an original cast member of the first Law & Order series. This show is so good that a spin-off was created, The Good Fight. We had complex cases, office romances, the whole “will they, won’t they” and lawyers behaving badly. Top tier tv.

2. Suits

Two men in suits walk in a city setting, appearing focused. The background is blurred with people and greenery. Blue suits and striped ties stand out.

Why You Should Watch: Suits is the perfect legal show for you. The series follows the story of a college dropout who made his living passing the bar for others but never got his license but somehow was practicing law at one of the most prestigious law firms. The chemistry between the characters makes this show incredibly binge-worthy. Did I mention Meghan Markle and Gina Torres? These powerhouse women along with Sarah Rafferty made the show. Years after ending, NBC wanted to capitalize on the popularity (there was a surge of binging during COVID) and aired one season of a spin-off Suits: LA. Didn’t really take off like Suits but worth a watch if you want to give Law & Order a break.

3. How to Get Away with Murder

A person with short brown hair looks serious in an indoor setting, wearing a dark top. Blurred figures in background suggest a gathering.

Why You Should Watch: The series revolves around Annalise Keating, a criminal defense attorney and law professor, who becomes entangled in a series of murders. Who wouldn’t want to take a course on the topic? Also, Viola Davis, people! Need I say more?

4. Better Call Saul

Man with a serious expression in a hallway, wearing a light plaid suit and purple shirt. Background is out of focus.

Why You Should Watch: Better Call Saul is the prequel to the hit series Breaking Bad, focusing on the transformation of Jimmy McGill into the morally ambiguous lawyer, Saul Goodman. A minefield of messiness and excellent TV.

5. Boston Legal

Two men in suits stand in an office, looking intently off-camera. The setting has yellow-tinted light through glass panels, creating a serious mood.

Why You Should Watch: From the creators of Ally McBeal (another top tier legal series), Boston Legal is more comedy than anything else but trust it works. The show follows eccentric lawyers Alan Shore and Denny Crane as they navigate outrageous legal cases. The dynamic between the two main characters and the show’s satirical take on the legal system make it a fun yet thought-provoking watch.

6. For the People

Three people in suits sit in a courtroom, appearing attentive. The setting is formal, with light wood paneling and upholstered seats.

Why You Should Watch: Set in New York’s Southern District Court, For the People offers a unique perspective on the lives of young public defenders and prosecutors. These new lawyers are on a learning curve for sure. Screw-ups and hookups oh and Rege-Jean Page aka The Duke.

7. Matlock

Three people in formal attire stand in an elevator. The man holds a briefcase; the older woman wears a paisley scarf. Neutral expressions.

Why You Should Watch: A remake that isn't really a remake, Matlock is the breakout freshman show of the fall season. Kathy Bates is back, going undercover as Matlock to find out who hid documents at a fancy law firm that contributed to the death of her daughter. The cast chemistry is amazing and Skye P. Marshall is a breakout star.

8. The Practice

Two people in a formal setting; a man in a suit looks serious, facing a woman with curly hair and a brown coat. Blurred arch background.

Why You Should Watch: In The Practice, a small Boston law firm tackles high-stakes criminal cases, often grappling with moral dilemmas about right and wrong. When I say Bobby was doing some things that may not have been legal but you still rooted for him. Love a show like that.

9. All Rise:

A judge sits at a courtroom bench, wearing a black robe. "Lola Carmichael, Judge" nameplate is visible. She looks serious and focused.

Why You Should Watch: All Rise follows the no nonsense but compassionate Judge Lola Carmichael, as a new Judge who has to make her own way through the justice system. I loved how this show dealt with race and how Lola was one of the first black judges in her city. She stood up for those wrongfully targeted. Fun fact: When the show was first cancelled, I started the petition that got it picked up by OWN.

10. The Lincoln Lawyer

Two people sit at a courtroom table, appearing serious. Both are in suits, with papers and a briefcase in front. Wood-paneled background.

Why You Should Watch: Based on the best-selling novels by Michael Connelly, The Lincoln Lawyer follows defense attorney Mickey Haller as he operates out of his Lincoln Town Car. Mickey does not play when it comes to his clients or his girl.

Honorable Mention: Reasonable Doubt from Hulu.

Two women in professional attire walk confidently down a hallway. One holds a folder, the other carries files. Background has plants.

There’s So Much More Than Law & Order

Whether you’re looking for a character-driven legal thriller or a courtroom comedy, these 10 legal shows offer something for every type of viewer. From the shiny Suits to the illegal practices in The Practice, these series will have you wanting more.

So, if you're ready for your next binge-watch, dive into one of these compelling legal dramas and get lost in the world of courtroom battles, courtroom humor, and legal intrigue.

Have you watched any of these legal shows? Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below, or share this list with fellow TV fans who are in need of a new legal drama to binge!

The TV Cave