Which TV shows will help me learn legal English?
WATCH TV AND LEARN LEGAL ENGLISH AT THE SAME TIME
Can you really watch a TV show about lawyers and learn legal English? Of course. There are so many fictional and fact-based shows available that you are sure to be entertained and informed.
British TV shows such as Mr Bates v The Post Office, The Trial, Silk and Rumpole of the Bailey will teach you so much about the legal system. US shows like The Good Wife and Suits are great too.
As long as you combine watching these programmes with a good language course, you should develop a deeper understanding of legal English.
Rumpole of the Bailey
Rumpole of the Bailey is a British television drama that was screened on ITV from 1978 to 1992. The reason why we mention this one is because Rumpole has a love of the English language and uses it frequently in court. He also defends poor criminal clients, which makes trials a little more interesting than corporate law.
The Trial
The Trial is an interesting experiment from UK TV network Channel Four. As cameras are not usually permitted in British courtrooms (except for The Supreme Court), the producers held a mock trial with real-life lawyers, a retired judge and jury members taken from members of the public. Actors played the parts of the accused and most of the witnesses.
The Briefs
Solicitors usually work separately from barristers in English law; their work is considered less sexier as it does not usually involve court appearances, and if it does, it tends to be minor cases. If you can find this documentary on the web, it is a useful insight into the work of solicitors.
