Lawyers! Judges! Criminals! Verdicts! What are the best lawyer shows? Here are the very best British legal and courtroom TV shows of all time. 

Whether you are studying law, you are a practising lawyer or are simply passionate about all the things that are going on in a courtroom, you’re likely into legal TV shows. Well, the good news is that there are many such TV series where you can take an inside look at the legal system and the lives of lawyers.

Justice-seeking stories are simply so engaging. You want to know who did it, their reason, and whether or not that person is going to get away with it.

So, your Honour, let’s call the best British legal and courtroom TV shows of all time to the witness stand!

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Rumpole Of the Bailey (1978-1992)

The British television series Rumpole Of the Bailey was created and written by the British writer and barrister John Mortimer, who continued his work as a barrister during the production of the first series. The TV show focuses on Horace Rumpole, played by Leo McKern, an elderly barrister based in London who defended a large variety of clients, typically underdogs.

Horace Rumpole’s skills at defending his clients are legendary among the criminal classes, making him popular among thieves to get them out of their latest bit of trouble with the law. Rumpole’s story stole the audiences of other media channels too, particularly radio listeners since 1980 when it was transformed in a number of different BBC productions.

Law& Order: UK (2009-2014)

Law& Order: UK is the British adaptation of the long-running (three decades) American Law & Order series. It was the first American drama television series to be adapted for British television and audience.

The British version of the popular American franchise duplicates the episode format of the original version. Yet, some appropriate modifications were obviously made in order for the show to resemble the English legal system more closely. More precisely, the first half of the episodes follow the perpetration of a crime and the related police investigation that happens in such cases, typically ending in an arrest. The second half of the episodes then follow the legal and court proceedings taken to convict the suspect.

The show’s name actually explains the way things happen in the show by dividing the two entities involved in the legal system: the “law” represents the fictional central London police, while “order” is the symbol of the Crown Prosecution Service.

What’s special about this legal show is that it is often showing what’s going on in the court from the prosecution’s point of view, with its main characters focusing on proving that the defendant is guilty, not innocent.

The Split (2018-2020)

The British legal drama TV series The Split was written and created by Abi Morgan. It is a six-part series that follows the lives of the Defoe family, whose members all work in divorce law for the family firm. The Defoe family includes Hannah, the eldest sister, Ruth, the mother, and Nina, the middle sister.

The plot starts with Hannah leaving the family law firm to join their rival Noble and Hale. Besides the drama related to Hannah’s decision, things tend to go wild when Oscar, Ruth’s husband and Hannah’s and Nina’s father returns for Ruth’s 70th birthday to demand his financial share of the firm after he has left the family home and fled to America in their childhood.

The Tv show presents some dramatic divorces, heated boardroom battles, and even chaotic love lives of the main characters.

Striking Out (2017-present day)

The Irish television legal drama Striking Out follows Tara, played by Amy Huberman, a Dublin-based solicitor who starts anew after discovering her fiancé has been cheating on her with one of their professional peers.

Well, instead of suing her fiancé Eric for cheating on her, because she is a lawyer and can do that sort of things, she is devastated and takes the time to be hurt. Yet, that’s when the “striking out” part happens, with Tara finding the courage to go on her own and sets up her own practice specialising in family and divorce law.

Since starting her own firm, Tara’s cases involve a different variety of clients who she tries to help, from celebrities to married housewives, former nuns, and even her friend’s daughter.

The Brief (2012-2013)

The Brief is a British factual legal programme where cameras follow layers from Tuckers, a very popular English law firm, as they handle their daily routine. Unlike the other TV shows in our list, this one focuses more on crime fact, which is just as appealing to legal enthusiasts as crime fiction.

This observational documentary series follows the lawyers as they prepare and present their cases in court, showing exactly what being a “real-life” lawyer involves, including discussing with clients, courts, and how cases end.

Besides that, the series also gives viewers an insight into how the Tuckers firm works, including the discussions of budgets, the cuts to legal aid, and how these things can affect the team.

The Briefs is particularly useful for those aspiring legal professionals who want to go into practice or for those who are planning to sue someone and want to learn how to prepare their case.

Silk (2011-2014)

British TV drama Silk, produced by BBC, follows the daily dilemmas and problems faced by modern-day barristers and what it means in the legal field to become a silk. More precisely, the show focuses on what silk lawyers are and the type of knowledge, experience and skills needed for a barrister to become a Queen’s Counsel.

Martha Costello, played by Maxine Peake, is the Silk show’s main character and the plot focuses mainly on her ambition to become Queen’s Counsel.

The TV series was such a major hit that in October 2014, it was announced that ABC would adapt it for USA audience.