Picturing Justice is an online journal of law and popular culture. From 1997 to 2006 the Journal solicited articles "on the interesection between law and lawyers on one side and popular culture on the other." The Article Archive includes over 150 articles analyzing films from a legal prospective.
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The American Film Institute was created in 1967 to preserve America's film heritage. As part of its goal of eductating future generations about films, the AFI put together this resource of the Top 10 Courtroom Dramas, including the film's trailer and short videos of AFI members discussing the film.
How do movies portray the law or lawyers?
How does television show law or lawyers?
How does the media decide which news to show?
How does the media influence the public's view of the justice system?
This essay by Lisa Trach discusses how lawyers and the justice system appear in popular culture such as TV shows and movies. She argues that popular culture almost always paints a negative picture of either lawyers or the justice system. Several examples are used such as the TV shows "Law and Order" and "Matlock", as well as movies such as "Liar Liar".
What are some movies in which lawyers are presented as unethical?
When did the public's perception of lawyers start to change?
Why did the public's perception of lawyers and the justice system change?
Which influenced public opinion, the media or lawyers?
An article by a law professor on the negative portrayal of lawyers in movies. The article discussed how the perception of lawyers has changed over the years, and questions whether or not this popular perception followed or led public opinion.
The American Bar Association Journal asked a number of lawyers connected to the film industry to send in thier picks for the greatest legal movies. From those submissions, the Journal ranked the Top 25 and put together a slideshow that includes background on each film.
By: editor1
Last Updated: December 7, 2011 - 3:08pm