Never let it be said that lawyers haven't contributed something entertaining to popular culture. After all, they've inspired a whole genre of jokes. Who could forget a classic like "How can you tell when a lawyer is lying?" (His lips are moving.) Or the ever popular "Why won't sharks attack lawyers?" (Professional courtesy.)
For years, lawyers have been a popular target for film and television writers, who routinely portrayed attorneys as selfish, briefcase-toting boors. These days, however, a growing number of attorneys have decided to switch sides rather than fight the stereotype. More and more, they are becoming television writers and show runners.
Although there are no reliable statistics, at least two dozen former lawyers have abandoned legal careers and successfully made the transition to cranking out episodes of TV shows. The list is topped by David E. Kelley, the former Boston attorney who, with shows like "The Practice," "Ally McBeal" and "Boston Public," is perhaps the highest-profile example of a lawyer making the leap into TV writing success.
Still, several others have made a similar move. Carol Mendelsohn runs CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." Rich Appel is the former executive producer of "King of the Hill" and is developing for NBC his own pilot based on his experiences as a federal prosecutor. Barry Schindel is in charge of NBC's "Law & Order." Jeff Rake was co-creator of last season's Fox series "The Street." Stephen Engel, producer of the recently departed NBC sitcom "Inside Schwartz," is also a former attorney. "Family Law," "First Monday" and "The Guardian" are just a few of the other series that employ lawyers as writers.
"I have no doubt that this is a trend," says Bob Breech, senior vice president for Kelley's production company. "I think it probably began with the glamorization of lawyers on 'L.A. Law,' which swelled the ranks of students in law school. Meanwhile, lawyers saw it and realized, 'I can do that too.'"
There have been plenty of shows about other professions, such as doctors, bankers, even journalists. However, it seems that the unique nature of their jobs makes attorneys not only perfect for a show but also gives them an advantage when it comes to writing a series.
