It is a question that has divided law offices and torn apart friendships. Who is the best fictional lawyer of all-time?
And now we have the technology to answer the age old question in the most democratic way possible – an NCAA-BuzzFeed style tournament.
It’s Quarterfinal time, the round of 8, do-or-die time.
It has been a hard fought battle to get here. The Simpson’s Lionel Hutz and Blue-Haired Lawyer dominated the cartoon category. Movie favourites Atticus Finch and Elle Woods destroyed the competition. Clare Huxtable proved to have huge staying-power in the sitcom category. And the West Wing’s Sam Seaborn overcame some serious pressure from real life Jill Hennessy!
So loving this….tho I might have to go with Lionel Hutz @TheSimpsons :admirable devotion to the law & impeccable hair. https://t.co/CdQQihp03C
— Jill Hennessy (@JillHennessy) January 3, 2019
Lets get to the voting!
Forget who the fictional lawyer is? Click the links for a video reminder.
Download the up-to-date PDF here.
Voting for this round closes on January 13th at 5pm.
Atticus Finch vs. Elle Woods
Atticus Finch fought a system of institutionalized racism in the 1962 film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird. He may carry come baggage following the publication of Go Set a Watchman in 2015. But there is no question Finch was a powerful voice for justice.
Elle Woods might have gone to law school for a boy but she quickly demonstrates some serious legal chops and was able to exonerate a sorority sister accused of murder. And there was a sequel.
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Clair Huxtable vs. Marshall Eriksen
Clair Huxtable has been a role model for a generation of female lawyers. As a high power lawyer and mother of five kids Clair is able to achieve a perfect work/life balance.
Marshall Eriksen is a lawyer of deep principle. He quit his job as a corporate lawyer at Goliath National Bank to pursue his dream of saving the world through environmental law. Marshall also coined the use of the word “Lawyered” whenever he makes a point in an argument.
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Lionel Hutz vs. Blue-Hired Lawyer
Lionel Hutz is a consummate professional. A master of continuing legal eductions, “Mr. Simpson, don’t you worry. I watched Matlock in a bar last night. The sound wasn’t on, but I think I got the gist of it.” and court room tactics, “Don’t worry, Homer. I have a fool proof strategy to get you out of here: surprise witnesses, each more surprising than the last. I tell you, the judge won’t know what hit him!” There is a reason why Hutz is the number one seed.
Blue-Haired Lawyer, is Springfield’s most prominent lawyer known for his pasty face, blue hair, New York accent, and nasal voice.
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Sam Seaborn vs. Jack McCoy
Sam Seaborn’s trademark — both his greatest strength and greatest flaw — is his unflinching idealism. His unwavering faith in and love for the American political process and the positive impact that government can have in its citizens’ lives define his character. Sam believes in doing the right thing simply because it is right, even when the consequences might be politically disastrous.
Jack McCoy quickly established himself as a more unconventional, ruthless litigator. He often bends—and sometimes breaks—trial rules to get convictions, finds tenuous rationales for charging defendants with crimes when the original charges fail to stick, and charges innocent people to frighten them into testifying against others. How may off screen wrongful convictions is McCoy responsible for?
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And with that the quarterfinals aredone. Check back on January 13th to vote in the semi-finals!
