Jurisdiction Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Practice

Before "Boston Legal", there was David E. Kelly's legal show "The Practice". Defense attorney Bobby Donnell founded the Boston firm of Robert Donnell and Associates. Bobby was played by Dylan McDermott, and the firm handled complex cases often involving ethical issues. The show aired from 1997 to 2004.

Answer: Suits

The law firm on "Suits" started out as Pearson Hardman, but morphed into Pearson Specter Litt over time. "Suits" depicted a highly prestigious New York law firm which required its attorneys to be Harvard graduates, and often dealt with compromising situations. Gina Torres played Jessica Pearson, with Meghan Markle (Harry's wife) in one of the starring roles.

The show was on from 2011 to 2019.

Answer: The Good Wife

Although "The Good Wife" was set in Chicago, it was filmed in New York. The show revolved around Alicia Florrick played by Julianna Margulies. Her husband's scandalous behavior resulted in Alicia going back to work as an attorney at the firm of Lockhart/Gardner, with Diane Lockhart played by the wonderful Christine Baranski. Original episodes ran from 2009 through 2016.

Answer: Ally McBeal

"Ally McBeal" was about a young female lawyer who joins the Boston firm of Cage and Fish, Richard Fish having been a classmate of Ally's. Ally was played by Calista Flockhart (later married to Harrison Ford), and was as much about her fantasies and personal life as it was about the cases she handled. The show was very popular, running from 1997 to 2002.

Answer: L.A. Law

"L.A. Law" was a prototype for television's legal shows. Featuring excellent actors and exceptional storylines, the attorneys worked at the prestigious firm of McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney and Kuzak. Created by Steven Bochco ("NYPD Blue"), it was set in Los Angeles (hence its title). The show made household names of Harry Hamlin and Corbin Bernsen. It aired from 1986 through 1994.

Answer: The Defenders

Going way back to early television, besides "Perry Mason", "The Defenders" was one of TV's first legal shows. It featured E.G. Marshall and Robert Reed (later Mike Brady) as Lawrence Preston and his son Kenneth, the father-and-son team of NY's Preston and Preston, who took on the defense of difficult cases, often with sensitive issues (e.g., abortion).

It originally aired from 1961 to 1965.

Answer: Bull

Dr. Phil McGraw created the show "Bull" which first aired in 2016. Dr. Jason Bull is not a lawyer but a psychologist who heads a high-tech firm, i.e., Trial Analysis Corp. (TAC), in New York City. The firm analyzes data regarding jurors and court proceedings to help their clients achieve a 'not guilty' verdict. Bull is played by Michael Weatherly (formerly Tony DiNozzo) who is assisted by his former brother-in-law, attorney Benny Colon (played by Freddie Rodriguez).

Answer: The Simpsons

Did the title "I Can't Believe It's A Law Firm" give away the fact that it is from "The Simpsons"? Lionel Hutz, voiced by Phil Hartman, is the sleazy, ambulance chasing, Springfield attorney whose office is at a shopping mall. While his ethics are questionable, his price is affordable. Hutz' first appearance was in season two in 1991, in the episode "Bart Gets Hit by a Car".

Answer: Will and Grace

On "Will and Grace", we often see Grace working at her interior design firm in New York City, but we see Will Truman in his capacity as an gay attorney much less frequently. He works for the firm of Doucette and Stein, with Will played by Eric McCormack and Ben Doucette having been played by Gregory Hines. Will's court time is overshadowed by his personal life and friends.

The show began in 1998 to 2006, and was rebooted in 2017.

Answer: The Cosby Show

Most of us ardently watched "The Cosby Show" from 1984 until 1992. We were introduced to the Huxtable family, Cliff, Clair and the kids, living in Brooklyn, New York. We knew Cliff was a doctor and Clair was a lawyer, but how many times did we ever see them at work? Did you know that Clair, played by the wonderful Phylicia Rashad, became a Senior Partner in the law firm of Bradley, Greentree and Dexter?