Top 10 Best Movies for Law Students: A Must Watch

If you’ve reached here, there is a good chance that you’re probably done watching Suits, the American television series and you’re wondering, ” Where do I find new Movies for Law Students?!”

Here’s a sweet little list of top 10 best movies for law students.

Though there aren’t too many good law-related movies from a personal point of view, these are the best movies for law students that I think have ever been produced on planet earth.

12 Angry men

This film is a master piece.

12 jury members brainstorm about a decision on the trial that they’re going to make to the Judge and this movie is all about their conversations inside the Jury room.

Even though it was produced in 1957, this movie can make young lawyers like you think very hard. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the movie 12 Angry Men will make you THINK!

The Indictment: MC Martin trial

“The charges were so shocking, the truth REALLY didn’t matter”

Take a glass of water while you sit and watch this movie. It is based on a true story McMartin preschool trial and is the longest-running trial in the Americal history.

This film can break you into pieces. The trial is about child molestation and satanic rituals in a pre-school that starts the talk in the town and the alleged incidents involved are too truthful to be fake.

To Kill a Mockingbird

You may have probably heard about this title. This movie is based on Harper Lee’s novel of the same name.

The plot of the movie revolves around racial discrimination and rape. Many have stated that this movie CHANGED THEIR LIVES.
Although, I’d suggest you read the book if you’re a book person.

The Paper Chase

This movie has quite a few scenes from the court room. The title is also based on a book that goes by the same name and was published back in 1970’s

The paper chase summary: This movie revolves around a Harvard Law School student who faces competition in law school and how we tries and figures out his way of legal education. This is why every law student has to watch this movie.

The Rainmaker

A 1997 American legal drama based on a novel too. This is about a freshly graduate law student who does not have a high paying job.

He is introduced to a Lawyer who knows the backdoor of everything. Eventually, he gets a case of an Insurance claim that could be worth several million in damages. Watch this title to experience real-world problems.

Erin Brockovich

A biographical film released in the year 2000. This film is a dramatization of the true story of Erin Brockovich who is a single mother and decides to fight a case against a big company for environmental pollution.

Michael Clayton

Nominated for seven academy awards, Michael Clayton, is an American legal thriller movie released in the year 2007.

Michael Clayton is a bad-ass fixer of New York City and knows all the loopholes of law that makes him the guy for all his clients. The film is about a multi-billion dollar class-action lawsuit, a law firm, and a mental breakdown. I think this qualifies as one of the good law movies available.

Legally blonde

It is an American comedy film based on Amanda Brown’s novel of the same name.

This title is about a woman who overcomes prejudice against blondes and triumphs as a successful lawyer while studying at the Harvard Law School through imperturbable self-confidence and who also has the fashion/beauty knowhow. One blonde to watch out for sure.

Hot Coffee

Hot Coffee is a documentary film released in 2011. If you’re a student who has an active interest in civil lawsuits or the law of torts to be specific then this movie is a must-watch for you.
This piece of documentary talks about several interesting real cases like Liebeck v. McDonald’s Rests, Gourley v. Neb. Methodist Health Sys and more.

The judge

Robert Downey JR. is enough to watch this film but it has actually a lot more than just that.

This movie, the Judge, is about a big-city lawyer who returns to his childhood home where his father, the town’s judge, is alleged of murder. The Lawyer sets out to find out the truth and, along the way, reconnects with long lost affection in his family.

I’ve heard people say, “This is the movie that made me want to go to law school.”

[Extra] Some Indian movies for law student that you must watch!

Indians are as we know very dramatic especially when it comes to movies. We tend to over dramatize even court room dramas. But here’s a few additional movies that you may enjoy.(Turn on subtitles if you do not understand Hindi). If you’re a law student you DEFINITELY have to watch these.

Pink (2016)

Amitabh Bachchan, the legendary actor that has acted in thousands of Bollywood movies has done justice to the role of the lawyer in the movie pink. Written by Shoojit Sircar, Ritesh Shah and Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, Pink is one of the best law movies rated IMDB 8.1/10 garnering the National Film Award and the Filmfare award in 2017.

“No means no, and does not require further explanation. ” was the ultimate message. You’ll know what I’m talking about when you’ll watch the trailer.

Section 375

 Marzi Ya Zabardasti? The courtroom drama that investigates into a story of a crime where a women alleges she was raped. The other side of the story seems to be a little different.

The film concludes with a quote “Law is a fact, Justice is abstract” and that will definitely make you think ill of our criminal justice system that is so much inclined towards one particular gender.

Article 15

Article 15 is a Hindi-language crime drama film directed by Anubhav Sinha and is surely one of those movies law students should watch. As the name suggests the film deals with Article 15 of the Constitution of India. Article 15 was the opening film at the London Indian Film Festival in 2019. Rated 8.2/10 in IMDB it is India’s one of the best films.

Pritam banik

Passionate about using the law to make a difference in people’s lives. An Advocate by profession.