Closing Arguments That Really Nail It: TV And Movie Edition

By Francine Fluetsch on June 30, 2016

This article is brought to you by Kaplan, the leader in test prep for over 90 standardized tests, including the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT.

TV shows and movies that deal with the law have always made me want to be a lawyer when I’m watching them, as it does to many people. Why? Because on the screen, the lawyers are able to use their wits to get the case together and win by a hair, and you sit there and watch, amazed at what they are capable of.

Of course, the real world is much different, but if we could live on the screen, I’d definitely choose being a lawyer as a profession. The main thing that sells me is when they have a powerful closing argument.

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A closing argument, as it can be used in real life, is where a summary of sorts is given to the jury, highlighting key factors that they should keep in mind after hearing all of the presented evidence. Usually, new evidence is not allowed to be presented at this point, but TV shows and movies can of course stretch this fact in order to achieve their shocker effect that keeps us watching.

Let’s look at some of these examples:

How To Get Away With Murder:

If you haven’t watched this show yet, hop on Netflix and start watching as soon as you can. This is honestly one of my favorite shows at the moment. It deals with a badass lawyer and her student interns as they deal with cases that seem unwinnable, and even find themselves having to cover up some trouble of their own. They are all incredibly smart and always seem to pull through at the last second.

There are many closing arguments in this that have made my jaw drop, so it might be hard to pick just one moment, but basically if Annalise Keating is in the courtroom, every word she says will hold your attention.

This show really shows how loop holes in the law are what lawyers need to look for, and that it’s better not to know if your client actually committed the crime or not.

I think it would be interesting to have some actual lawyers weigh in on how accurate the show is to real life scenarios that could happen, because to me it all looks very believable.

Legally Blonde:

Another goodie, Legally Blonde is the perfect example of how sometimes you have to think outside of the box and the books to win your case. Elle Woods isn’t believed in by a lot of people, but she worked her butt off to get into law school and she shows how much she knows with her closing argument, where she proves that her client couldn’t possibly be the killer.

This argument holds a lot of weight for the audience because we all love rooting for an underdog, and in that moment, Elle believes in herself, and her team sees just how valuable she is. I always tear up at that part.

The Lincoln Lawyer:

This is another awesome law movie where the lawyers really know their stuff. I don’t want to spoil the big twist (if you haven’t watched this movie put it on your to-do list), but this lawyer starts to figure out a big secret as he delivers his closing argument. Has his client been trustworthy the whole time? Or is something fishy going on? The audience starts to piece everything together as Matthew McConaughey’s character does, so your heart is pounding a mile a minute as he delivers his closing argument.

Law Abiding Citizen:

This movie is another thriller of sorts that will really require you to focus as you go along for the crazy ride. This one shows the corruption of our legal system, and what one man plans to do about it. The closing argument in favor of the main villain will leave your blood boiling, and the main character delivers his own closing argument of sorts at the end of the movie, to show just how crazy our system is and how he technically never broke the law. It’s an amazing movie that will really make you question everything.

Making A Murderer:

This is a documentary series on Netflix that shows how an innocent man is framed for a murder he didn’t commit. And who is framing him? None other than his city’s police department. The closing argument delivered by the prosecutor honesty makes no sense and shows they have no real evidence to convict the man in question, but so many hurdles are thrown at him that it might not matter. I don’t want to give away the ending, so you should go check it out for yourself to see what I’m getting at.

Shows and movies about the law and corruption in our society are always going to be popular because they interest people, they get them thinking, and are the perfect set-up for a thrilling movie. Know of any other closing arguments that should have made the list? Leave them in the comment section below!

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