Law Student’s Must-Watch List

the law student’s

Words by: christina Akele

Films with a premise centred around ‘law’ have undeniably captured the attention of the public for years. From star-studded casts to dramatic dialogue, law-related films always have a way of moving an audience, even if they are not always entirely accurate. But for us law students, some of these films might just remind us of the reason we are all here, and what we might one day achieve.

For today’s issue, our recommendations include films that honour history’s legal heroes, a movie based on a famous trial, and – the essential – an inspirational chick flick. Also, keep reading for the perfect film to watch after mid-year exams that has little to no relevance to law, but with humour that is very, for lack of a better phrase, à la Hilarian.

Legallly Blonde (2001) Movies

This classic chick-flick has really stood the test of time. The film may leave you thinking, ‘a video essay like that would TOTALLY get anyone into Harvard Law’, or asking, ‘how on earth did a FIRST-YEAR student get to work on such a high-profile murder case?’ Even the courtroom scene might be a little baffling for us law students. But there is no denying that this movie will put a smile on your face, even if the plot is somewhat hyperbolic (to say the least).

The film follows Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon), a privileged, seemingly vapid, yet charismatic girl obsessed with anything pink, who is dumped by her douche of a boyfriend after he is accepted into Harvard Law school. Believing that he is in search of a sensible law student, Elle manages to be admitted into Harvard Law in a quest to win him back, but she gradually realises her own intelligence and potential in the legal field and her trajectory soon changes.

Whether it’s Elle Woods’ iconic pink courtroom attire, or the way that the film defies gender tropes and stereotypes, this might be the film to watch to raise your spirits – just suspend your disbelief for a second when it comes to the legal stuff.

the law student’s must-watch list

The trial of the chicago 7 (2020)

This film is perfect for all the history nerds out there! While you might be able to spot some common courtroom drama clichés and historical inaccuracies, it does not take away from the complex characters played by familiar actors like Eddie Redmayne and Sacha Baron Cohen, and Aaron Sorkin’s script that conveys important messages that still remain relevant to this day.

Essentially, the film follows the trial of eight activists charged with conspiring to cross state lines in order to incite a riot in relation to anti-Vietnam War protests (which began peacefully, but resulted in a brutal, violent clash with the police) during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. While there are initially eight on trial for the aforementioned charge, the film depicts how one of the defendants, Bobby Seale (played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), co-founder of the Black Panthers, had his case severed from the trial, leaving seven (hence the famous appellation given to the group). This film conveys the nearly five-month-long ‘political’ trial, mainly focussing on the defendants themselves, while also exploring the arguments of the defence lawyers and the motives of the prosecution. Also, just a warning: the judge’s infuriating prejudice towards the defendants might drive you insane while watching this film.

Without giving away spoilers, the film’s ending will leave you with goosebumps and hastily looking up the events that inspired this thought-provoking legal drama.

RBG (2018)

If you hadn’t already caught on, 2020 wasn’t the most enjoyable of years. Not only was there a global pandemic, but the world lost American Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a true feminist icon. This documentary (I know, it’s not a movie, but it deserved a spot on this list nonetheless) is a must-watch for all law students, especially for those interested in gender equality. The documentary follows ‘the Notorious RBG’ and her incredible journey. Beginning with RBG’s time as a law student (who manages to balance her studies, motherhood, taking care of her husband who had cancer, and

ultimately graduating top of her class!), the documentary then focuses on her incredible work as a lawyer fighting for gender equality, all the way up to her appointment as a Supreme Court Justice.

While you might mourn the world’s loss of a great legal mind, watching this documentary on a real-life superhero will leave you feeling inspired to continue the fight for equal rights for all.

marshall (2017)

The film follows the early career of NAACP lawyer Thurgood Marshall (Chadwick Boseman), whose name probably sounds familiar – and for good reason. Before being appointed as the first African American Supreme Court Justice, Marshall was a highly influential civil rights lawyer. He was particularly known for his work on the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education (the United States Supreme Court case which ruled that segregated schools were unconstitutional). But, like I mentioned earlier, this movie focuses on Marshall’s early career, primarily, his work on the State of Connecticut v. Joseph Spell case, in which he represented the defendant Joseph Spell (Sterling K. Brown), an African American man falsely accused of raping a wealthy white woman.

This film is definitely a must-watch for those interested in the history of the civil rights movement in America – which is everyone, amirite team?!

tv show

trial by media (2020)

This Netflix documentary miniseries explores six famous (or infamous) cases which received extreme media coverage, and how intense public scrutiny can affect the outcomes of cases. Each episode is gripping; providing different perspectives from those who witnessed the media storms first-hand, or who were directly involved in the trials. It also helps that George Clooney is an executive producer on the show!

Episode 2, is particularly interesting as it focuses on the controversial trial of Bernhard Goetz, also known as the ‘Subway Vigilante’, who (without spoiling too much of the episode) served as inspiration for the character of the Joker in the 2019 film Joker. On the

other hand, law students might find Episode 3 especially impactful as it focuses on the murder of Guinean immigrant, Amadou Diallo, by four police officers, even though he was unarmed at the time. This case, which certainly remains relevant today, explores the trauma of racial prejudice and police brutality

need something to watch after a 2 hour exam?

shrek (2001)

You have just finished your last exam for the semester. You are exhausted, your brain is probably fried, and seeing anything ‘law-related’ might drive you insane. Well, Shrek might just be the perfect escapism to forget about your studies for two-hours. I am not going to go into the premise of this film, because honestly, if you haven’t seen it, I don’t even know what to say.

Calling Shrek iconic is an understatement. Since its release in 2001, this comedic animation has cultivated a massive audience. Seriously, who can forget the internet’s bizarre obsession with the film’s protagonist? (‘Shrek is love, Shrek is life’, anybody? Ok, but seriously, what on earth was that phase?!) But the best thing about the film (and its sequel) is the comedy. The older you get, the more you realise what flew over your head when you were five years old (and trust me, it’s a lot). This epic animated adventure film is somehow filled with strange characters (to say the least), subtle pop-culture references and iconic lines. The soundtrack alone might leave you nostalgic for your childhood.