The study of law is in itself a long and tiring process. But hey! There is something interesting thing to do in this world that will enhance your legal study as well as your mood. And that something is movies, yes you heard right, there are so many movies based on a courtroom drama that will teach you more about law and will make a study of law interesting. Here, is the list of 10 must-watch movies for aspiring lawyers.
1. Twelve Angry Men: This movie was made in 1957 which was set in the jury room. In this movie, 12 eminent lawyers sit to decide a case that seems to be an open and shut case but it was not. This movie also shows how the life experience of a juror can affect the ongoing case.
2. Into the Abyss: This documentary was released in the year 2011 where the famed filmmaker Werner Herzog explores capital punishment through the lens of the case of a triple homicide in Texas by taking interviews of the convicted criminals, the family member of victims, and members of the criminal justice system of Texas.
3. To Kill a Mocking Bird: This movie was based on the classic novel of Harper Lee with the same name. This movie shows the tireless efforts of attorney Atticus Finch to save his client a black man falsely accused of rape.
4. Erin Brockovich: This movie was made in 2000. It is made on a real-life incident of Erin Brockovich who sued an energy corporation the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) for contaminating the water of a town named Hinkley where the PG&E energy corporation had a plant. This movie very dramatically showed how Erin collected evidence and made a strong case against PG&E.
5. And Justice for All: This courtroom drama was released in 1979. This movie revolves around the life of a defense attorney Arthur Kirkland in Baltimore. In this movie, the protagonist Arthur is a jail for assaulting Henry T. Fleming a judge. Once in the profession of lawyer a time will come where you will start questioning the entire legal system and so this movie is a must watch for all the law students to understand that facet.
6. The Accused: This movie was released in the year 1988. This movie is based on a real-life incident of Cheryl Araujo a working woman who was gang rape in 1983 in a bar in Massachusetts. The courtroom scene of this movie is a good means to understand how the questioning of witnesses is done in court.
7. A Separation: This is an Iranian film that was released in 2011 focusing on a life of a middle-class Iranian couple who separated and conflicts arose between them. This movie beautifully depicted the ups and downs faced by a middle-class family.
8. Marshall: This iconic movie was made in 2017 which is based on the real-life story of the historic lawyer Thurgood Marshall who would become the first African-American Supreme Court Justice as he sails through one of the most important cases.
9. Loving: This movie was made in 2016 directed by Jeff Nichols. This movie is based on the lives of a couple of Richard and Mildred Loving who were arrested in Virginia for interracial marriage. Their arrest led to a legal battle that made its way to the United State’s Supreme Court.
10. Based on Sex: This movie was made in 2018. It is a biopic based on the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg a Supreme Court justice. This movie revolves around her early life and her law school journey and her first gender discrimination lawsuit.
So, here is the list of all the interesting legal movies, hope you will enjoy them.
About the author –
This blog is authored by Shalini Bhatt, second year law student at Chanakya National Law University, Patna.
