The Five Best Movies for Prospective Law Students
Movies and television have sparked people’s interest in becoming lawyers at least since the 1950s. For most people, their first and often only encounter with a lawyer or a courtroom comes from a movie that they watched. Movies have the power to transport us into new worlds and unlike most genres, movies about lawyers bring us into a world that we can access in our real lives. Many attorneys don’t want to admit it, but it was most likely a movie that inspired them to pursue law in the first place. Below is a list that anyone thinking about turning their fascination with on-screen lawyers into actually becoming an attorney should watch.
The Paper Chase (1973)
Based on the novel, The Paper Chase, this movie follows James Hart as he enters his first year at Harvard Law. The audience is quickly introduced to his classmates and the classrooms. Hart ends up with a notoriously demanding and downright scary contracts professor, Charles Kingsfield, who immediately takes Hart to task with a continual barrage of questions using the Socratic Method of teaching in a bid to break Hart and his classmates' will to live. There is a great romance subplot and true friendship between Hart and most of his classmates.
Trivia: The movie was so successful that it became a television series that lasted four seasons and starred John Hausman, who reprised his role as Professor Kingsfield, from the movie. I would also recommend the television series, as it introduces you to law review.
Legally Blonde (2001)
Once again, we’re back at Harvard Law in the first-year class; however, now it is Elle, the ultimate beautiful young woman from Bel Air, who works her butt off to get into Harvard to try and win back her college boyfriend. Here too is a very demanding law professor, Elspeth Stromwell, who pushes Elle hard in the beginning, but then becomes one of her strongest allies. The films’ romantic comedy genre provides a fun look into life at law school. Elle studies hard for the LSAT, convinces her college advisor that she is an outstanding candidate for law school, and moves back East. There is a terrific courtroom scene as part of an internship she snags, and my favorite scene is her and some fellow classmates meeting each other and getting to know each other by introducing themselves.
Trivia: The film inspired a sequel where Elle takes on Washington, D.C., and a Broadway show
Catch me if You Can (2002)
A completely fun film based on a true story of an imposter who poses as many types of professionals, including a recent law grad. The scenes are in the middle of the movie, but to keep his con going, this young man, who doesn’t even have a college degree, spends six weeks studying for the Louisiana Bar and passes on his first try. The movie’s main plot is a cat and mouse game between Tom Hanks and Leonardo Di Caprio. Tom Hanks is an FBI agent chasing Leonardo, a con artist with a special talent for forging checks.
Trivia: The man the story is based on actually studied, sat for, and passed the Louisiana Bar.
In the Name of the Father (1993)
Even though this movie takes place in the United Kingdom, it is an amazing example of injustice, corruption, and police interrogation. Watch for Emma Thomas, who plays the lead character’s appellate counsel, investigate the wrongdoings, keep the case in the headlines, and argue with passion during the court scenes. Daniel Day-Lewis plays the main character to perfection. It is also good for future criminal law attorneys to see what being unjustly accused does to a person.
Trivia: This movie is based on the story of the Guilford Four who were accused and wrongly convicted of planting a bomb at a pub for the IRA which detonated and killed many inside.
12 Angry Men (1957)
When you are thinking of becoming a lawyer, especially one who does trial work, it is worth peeking into the jury room during deliberations. 12 Angry Men is that peek. The film begins with closing arguments and you are quickly in the jury room. The defendant is an inner-city teenager who is potentially facing the death penalty. Some of the men on the jury want to quickly vote to convict. Yes it is 1957, the film is in black and white, and surprise the jury is solely composed of white men. Henry Fonda is one of the sole holdouts and the film is mostly about how he works to show that the defendant is not guilty by forcing the men to really examine the evidence.
Trivia: It was well-reviewed and it is still popular, and although it was nominated for five Oscars it failed to win any American awards. It had an enormous European following and won several prestigious international awards.
Honorable Mentions: Inherit the Wind (1960), Philadelphia (1993), The Fight (2020), Civil Action (1998)
Take a break from what you’re doing for the next few weeks, make some popcorn, pour your beer or wine, and sit back and enjoy these films. Watching them will definitely fire you up to become a lawyer.