Legal dramas are one of those types of TV shows that everyone loves to curl up with after a long day. They provide intensity, intelligence, and sometimes even a dose of comedy. There have been many throughout the decades, continuing into the 2020s, with some of the best in the genre premiering within the last few years.
The best legal drama shows of the 2020s include a mix of single-season series, ones that bring back classic concepts, and exciting new ones with refreshing twists. Each one brings something interesting to the table and is worth a watch. Here are the best legal dramas of the decade so far.
10
‘Defending Jacob’ (2020)
Created by Mark Bomback
The murder-mystery legal drama miniseries Defending Jacob was only a single season, but it brought forth a harrowing story with a talented cast. Jacob (Jaeden Martell) is a 14-year-old boy accused of murder, and his parents, Andy (Chris Evans), who also happens to be an assistant district attorney, and Laurie (Michelle Dockery), must deal with the devastating case while internally questioning what their son did, or didn’t, do.
Told through eight episodes, Defending Jacob is based on the novel of the same name by William Landay and has been praised for the performances and emotional nature of the story. While the ending didn’t sit well with some viewers, there’s no denying it’s one of the most gripping legal dramas of the past five years.
9
‘All Rise’ (2019–2023)
Created by Greg Spottiswood
A procedural legal drama, All Rise centers around judges, prosecutors, and public defenders working in a Los Angeles courthouse. At the center is Judge Lola Carmichael (Simone Missick), a former deputy district attorney who takes her new job very seriously, unwilling to let anything slide in the name of justice.
The series, which moved from CBS to OWN for its final season, received controversy for its depictions of race and gender. But it’s an important entry into the genre that brings a fresh spin by focusing on a judge versus lawyers, like most other legal dramas do.
All Rise
- Release Date
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2019 – 2022
- Showrunner
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Greg Spottiswood (Seasons 1-2), Dee Harris-Lawrence (Season 3)
- Writers
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Greg Spottiswood
8
‘Accused’ (2023–)
Created by Howard Gordon
Arguably one of the best new legal dramas most haven’t heard of, Accused is a crime drama based on the British series of the same name. Every episode follows a person who is in court, accused of a crime. The twist is that viewers don’t know what the crime is and what evidence led to them being arrested for it. The story, instead, is told from the perspective of the defendant, as they recall the events that led up to the trial.
With two seasons under its belt, Accused has featured known actors among its cast each season, including Michael Chiklis, Megan Boone, Lauren Ridloff, Rachel Bilson, Malcolm Jamal-Warner, Margo Martindale, and Jason Ritter. It’s a legal drama with a fascinating perspective, unlike anything else on television.
7
‘Reasonable Doubt’ (2022–)
Created by Raamla Mohamed
Emayatzy Corinealdi is Jax Stewart, a corporate criminal defense lawyer working high-profile cases in Reasonable Doubt. As if her job wasn’t demanding enough, she is also dealing with a separation from her husband, raising her children, and the return of a former client who has recently been released from prison.
Returning for a third season in September 2025, Reasonable Doubt’s first season maintains a 100% Rotten Tomatoes critics score, earning high marks for its depiction of complex characters, messy drama, and the soapy feel.
6
‘Family Law’ (2021–)
Created by Susin Nielsen
Hailing from Canada, Family Law has a cast of recognizable faces, including Victor Garber (Alias), Lauren Holly (Dumb and Dumber), and Jewel Staite (Firefly). The plot centers around Abigail Bianchi (Staite), a lawyer and recovering alcoholic who starts to work for her estranged father and half-siblings as a requirement of her probation. While handling family law cases for the first time, she recognizes dysfunction in her clients that exists in her own family life, too.
Family Law adds a raw, emotional, and more personal feel to the genre than is typically found in other cookie-cutter procedurals. With a fourth season on its way in North America (already out in Europe), the show is one of those under-the-radar hidden gems worth checking out.
Family Law
- Release Date
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September 16, 2021
- Network
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Global TV
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Jewel Staite
Abigail ‘Abby’ Bianchi
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Zach Smadu
Daniel Svensson
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Genelle Williams
Lucy Svensson
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Lauren Holly
Joanne Kowalski
5
‘Presumed Innocent’ (2024–)
Created by David E. Kelley
Based on the Scott Turow novel of the same name and a new interpretation of the 1990 movie that starred Harrison Ford, Presumed Innocent brings a modern spin to the story. Jake Gyllenhaal is Rusty Sabich, a prosecutor who becomes wrapped up in the murder of his colleague with whom, it turns out, he was embroiled in a torrid affair. Named as Apple TV+’s most-watched drama, Presumed Innocent is a slow burn through its eight episodes. But it builds and builds tension for viewers as Rusty hits a wall at every corner.
With a second season coming, presumably based on the upcoming Jo Murray novel Dissection of a Murder, fans are excited to see the concept return with a new group of actors.
4
‘Perry Mason’ (2020–2023)
Created by Rolin Jones and Ron Fitzgerald
This historical drama Perry Mason is based on the character by Erle Stanley Gardner, who was first depicted on screen in the 1950s and ’60s series in the show of the same name starring Raymond Burr. Matthew Rhys takes on the tall task of portraying him, a Los Angeles-based defense lawyer in 1932 following the Great Depression. Struggling with trauma from the war as well as a recent divorce, he becomes caught up in a kidnapping trial that takes twists and turns.
Running for two seasons, Perry Mason earned decent reviews, praised not only for the story and acting, but the compelling visuals that tell a story of its time as well.
3
‘Your Honor’ (2020–2023)
Created by Peter Moffat
Bryan Cranston is Michael Desiato in Your Honor, a respected judge who always follows the rule of the law. When his teenage son Adam (Hunter Doohan) is involved in a hit-and-run accident that leaves another teen dead, he urges his son to come clean. That is, until he learns that the deceased is the son of a mob kingpin. Now, Michael must balance his obligation to the law with his inherent need to protect his son.
Your Honor is gripping and beautifully acted, a miniseries that ran for two seasons, one of the best legal drama TV shows of all time. While the series earned mixed reviews, there’s no doubt that Cranston can carry a plot with heavy weight, and he does so in spades with this series.
2
‘Matlock’ (2024–)
Created by Jennie Snyder Urman
Matlock is a beloved character from the 1980s series of the same name starring Andy Griffith as the title character. But this interpretation takes a clever meta spin. Madeline Kingston (Kathy Bates) is a retired lawyer who is desperate for justice for the death of her daughter, the result of the opioid epidemic. In the fictional world of this series, the show Matlock exists, and Madeline decides to take on the surname of this famous TV lawyer and get a job at the law firm she believes hid evidence in her daughter’s case.
Matlock blends heart and humor beautifully, one of the funniest legal drama shows. With Bates at the center, it’s no surprise the series is has been a hit since it premiered in 2024.
Matlock
- Release Date
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September 22, 2024
- Network
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CBS
1
‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ (2022–)
Created by David E. Kelley
Another remake, The Lincoln Lawyer is based on the same character from the Michael Connelly novels, and the same character that Matthew McConaughey played in the 2011 movie. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo is Mickey Haller in this version, a defense lawyer dealing with personal demons who gets back into the game when an old colleague dies and leaves his practice to him. Mickey’s unorthodox methods and grey area tactics might win him cases, but it also often puts him in danger.
The Lincoln Lawyer provides a nice mix of cases, a new one each season, as well as personal stories for all its main characters, following Mickey along his rocky journey. With moments of drama, violence, and witty humor, the series is one of the most underrated legal dramas, keeping viewers thoroughly entertained as the cases evolve.
