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L.A. Law

1986 – 1994Show8 seasons171 episodes

DramaWar & Politics
77
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.1Metacritic837.4

A nostalgic, layered drama series about everyday modern life and society.

Good for date night · friends night · party vibe

Skip it if you want to half-watch while scrolling

Where to watch

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Not for scares or brutality.

Shows with

Episodes

8 seasons · 171 episodes · best: S1E9 "The Venus Butterfly" 8.2

Episodes

7.7
7.4
7.4
7.8
7.7
7.1
6.7
6.9

Story

The professionals who will take you into the jungles of American justice.

The high-powered law firm of McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney and Kuzak handles both criminal and civil cases, usually for high fees. However, office politics and romance often distract the legal staffers from matters in the courtroom.

Feels like

  • Classic Legal Procedural
  • Ensemble Drama
  • Social Issue Exploration
  • Witty Dialogue
  • Workplace Dynamics
  • 1980s Nostalgia
  • Political Intrigue
  • Character-Driven Storytelling
  • Urban Realism

Cast

24 of 978 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Win Phelps, Elodie Keene, Tom Moore
Written by
David E. Kelley, William M. Finkelstein, Steven Bochco
Produced by
John Masius, Gregory Hoblit, Mark Tinker

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 15, 1986 · May 19, 1994 · Ended

First aired
September 15, 1986
Last aired
May 19, 1994
Status
Ended
Length
8 seasons · 171 episodes
Content
Strong Language
Genres
Drama, War & Politics
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
1 country

Tropes

Team Killer, Truth in Television, Celebrity Paradox +9

  • Team Killer
  • Truth in Television
  • Celebrity Paradox
  • Transplant
  • Shrine to Self
  • A Taste of Their Own Medicine
  • Job Title
  • Hilarity Sues
  • Jerkass
  • Revolving Door Casting
  • Offscreen Breakup
  • Protagonist-Centered Morality

12 of 60 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream L.A. Law?"

Questions about L.A. Law

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream L.A. Law?

Hulu

In the United States, L.A. Law streams on Hulu.

Is L.A. Law worth watching?

77
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 77 (IMDb 7.1 and Metacritic 83). Critics rate it higher (83 out of 100) than audiences (73).

Which season of L.A. Law is best?

Season 4, with an IMDb average of 7.8. Season 7 is the weakest at 6.7. The highest-rated episode is The Venus Butterfly (season 1, episode 9) at 8.2, and the lowest is Helter Shelter (season 7, episode 7) at 5.8.

How long does it take to watch L.A. Law?

128 h

About 128 hours: 171 episodes in 8 seasons of about 45 minutes each, aired from 1986 to 1994.

Is L.A. Law plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on dialogue centrality (8 of 10) and character depth (7 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does L.A. Law use?

Team KillerTruth in TelevisionCelebrity ParadoxTransplantShrine to SelfA Taste of Their Own MedicineJob TitleHilarity SuesJerkassRevolving Door CastingOffscreen BreakupProtagonist-Centered Moralityand 48 more

TV Tropes lists 60 tropes for it, including Team Killer, Truth in Television, and Celebrity Paradox.