L.A. Law TV Show - L.A. Law Television Show - Yahoo! TV

During the time period this show was on, I was teaching law school. My classes usually ended by 9:00 P.M. when I taught in the evenings, but sometimes went as long as to 10:00. L.A. Law, Hill Street Blues, yes and even Vegas, helped me to decompress after what was often a long day. Thus, if the class ended at 10:00, I was racing out the door at at 9:40. Today, of course, with DVR, they would not be so fortunate.
I loved the characters' humanity (flawed in some ways and amazingly kind and concerned in others), the plot lines and,the scripts The attorneys on this show could have been my friends and colleagues, even though I had been a sole practitioner before teaching.
I compare it favorably to Ally McBeal, even though LA Law was much more of an ensemble show and the dynamics among the partners and associates is much more believable to anyone familiar with large firm dynamics. The attorneys were not all handsome or gorgeous, but bright and attractive in other ways that the audience can identify with. And of course there was the aftr work let-down at their favorite cocktail lounge with the melodious voice of Barry White to soothe the savage trial attorney breast.
The current love of my television life is Boston Legal.
their characters are drawn with bold strokes, often comedic in action, but always with some serious intention and heart. If LA Law had their terrific developmentally disabled clerk who was so engaging, no one but Boston Legal would permit the aging and increasingly insecure William Shatner engage in the antics he performs, I am all too familiar with the hanky panky that sometimes goes on in judge's chambers but the personal interaction with judges regarding individual cases makes me grind my teeth because it is simply NOT DONE. Their attorney with Aspergers behaves more like someone with mild autism, although his ability to connect with the other actors (I am so glad he is back at the firm) makes me question the diagnosis and wonder if it isn't Tourette's syndrome. Be thatas it may, the quirkiness of the characters, the plot lines that reflect current issues, and the wonderful writing has permitted me to place it next to LA Law in my heart. The after work cigars on the balcony are charming and reveal the humanity and to some extent neediness, so present in major trial lawyers I ahve known.
LA Law broke the chain of Perry Mason imitators and brought freshness to the shows about the inner and outer workings of a major law firm. I have always missed it. They seem like long-lost family to me.
They just don't make them like this any more.
Judy Di