legal drama

Meaning

A genre of film, television, or literature that focuses on the legal system, lawyers, trials, and courtroom proceedings. It emphasizes the moral, ethical, and personal conflicts of characters working in the legal profession.

Examples

• Suits is a highly entertaining legal drama set in a corporate law firm.

  Suits is a highly entertaining legal drama set in a corporate law firm.

• I always get tense during the courtroom scenes in a good legal drama.

  I always get tense during the courtroom scenes in a good legal drama.

• The movie is a compelling legal drama about a wrongful conviction.

  The movie is a compelling legal drama about a wrongful conviction.

• She decided to go to law school because she watched too many legal dramas as a kid.

  She decided to go to law school because she watched too many legal dramas as a kid.

• This new legal drama focuses more on public defenders than wealthy corporate lawyers.

  This new legal drama focuses more on public defenders than wealthy corporate lawyers.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I am watching an interesting lawyer drama.

  ✓ I am watching an interesting legal drama.

  While 'lawyer' is the profession, the correct and standard name of this genre is 'legal drama'.

• ✗ That legal drama has many court trials.

  ✓ That legal drama has many courtroom trials.

  'Court trial' is redundant in English; we usually say 'courtroom trials', 'courtroom scenes', or simply 'trials'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you like intense speeches in front of a jury, you should watch this new ___.

  💡 A show centered around lawyers and court cases.

  Show answer

  legal drama

• To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic novel that functions partly as a powerful ___.

  💡 A narrative focused on a trial and justice.

  Show answer

  legal drama