10 TV Shows Like Reasonable Doubts You Should Watch Next
Emayatzi Corinealdi ( from “Middle of Nowhere,” “The Invitation “) gives a brilliant performance in the legal drama “Reasonable Doubt,” now in its fourth season on Hulu . She plays Jax Stewart, a former public defender working at a prestigious Los Angeles firm—a self-righteous do-gooder and sometimes downright sloppy. Jax isn’t always likable, and she often cares more about her own cases than her clients.
Despite the soapy charms of the show (written by Raamla Mohamed, the creator of “Scandal” ), this occasional indifference feels very real, as does her complicated personal life. If you’re looking for other series that combine gripping cases with the complicated lives of lawyers outside the courtroom, here are 10 worth watching.
Presumed Innocent (2024 – )
This legal thriller from David E. Kelley (based on Scott Turow’s bestselling novel, previously adapted for film with Harrison Ford) spends more time in the courtroom than many similar dramas, giving it a unique flavor. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Rusty Sabich, a prosecutor assigned to investigate the murder of a colleague. His attempts to steer the investigation in the right direction lead to trouble when it is discovered that he was having an affair with the murdered woman, who was pregnant at the time of the murder. Rusty quickly becomes the prime suspect, and his previous questionable behavior doesn’t help his situation. The series will return for a second season, starring Rachel Brosnahan and based on the novel Autopsy of Murder by Jo Murray. Watch Presumed Innocent on Apple TV .
Matlock (2024 – )
A direct reboot of Matlock could have been an easy hit for CBS, but the show’s creators pulled a clever trick right off the bat: the classic series is just a TV show set in the world of Maddy Matlock, played by Kathy Bates, who just happens to share a name and personality with the original’s sweetheart—or so we’re led to believe, until a larger plan and long-term game are revealed, and we discover her sweet old lady persona is all just that: an act. She signs a contract with her driven younger partner, Olympia Lawrence (Skye P. Marshall), and the two alternately become friends and foes, demonstrating terrific chemistry on television. Watch Matlock on Paramount+ .
All’s Fair (2025 – )
The legal drama is an enduring invention, in part because it’s so versatile: it can be both sophisticated and sleazy. This Ryan Murphy drama should give you some idea of where it sits on that spectrum. The critically panned divorce legal drama was named the worst show of the year —but some of those reviews feel like a kind of arms race against “Fair Play,” ignited by critics to see who can pull it off: Ed Power of The Telegraph called it “a crime against television,” while Lucy Mangan of The Guardian said , “I didn’t know it was still possible to make TV this bad.” And yet! It became Hulu’s biggest debut in three years, and viewers kept watching, for its kitsch or otherwise. Good, bad, or brilliantly bad, this series has become one of the most talked about of the year, featuring stars like Niecy Nash-Betts, Brooke Shields, Teyana Taylor, Sarah Paulson, Judith Light, and Glenn Close. Watch “All’s Fair” on Hulu .
How to Get Away with Murder (2014–2020)
How to Get Away with Murder is one of Shonda Rhimes’ most gripping series, winning numerous awards during its run and being as smart as it is sexy. As the title suggests, it focuses more on murder and conspiracy than Beyond Reasonable Doubt , but both series revolve around talented, driven protagonists with complicated personal lives, constantly grappling with the compromises and complexities of the legal system. Viola Davis plays Annalise Keating, a law professor who, at the beginning of the series, inadvertently draws five of her most talented students into a murder plot—and things only get more complicated from there. Watch How to Get Away with Murder on Hulu.
Outstanding Advocate Wu (2022–)
The smart and deservedly acclaimed drama “Woo” tells the story of a lawyer recently hired by a major Seoul law firm, played by Park Eun-bin. Despite graduating with honors from law school, prejudice hindered the autistic Woo’s ability to find work, and this continues to haunt her in her new position. However, her colleagues (mostly) gradually adapt to her sensory triggers and communication style, bolstered by her apparent skill when allowed to be herself. The series features multiple subplots, including an office romance, and each episode sees Eun-woo assigned to a challenging case tackling broader social issues (domestic violence, government corruption, discrimination against people with disabilities, etc.). A second season is in production.Watch “Woo the Extraordinary Lawyer” on Netflix.
The Good Fight (2017–2022)
This spinoff/sequel to The Good Wife centers on Christine Baranski (always a good move) as Diane Lockhart, whose financial situation is complicated by a financial scandal involving her goddaughter Maya (Rose Leslie), which wipes out her savings and leads to her dismissal. Afterward, Diane joins her friend Lucca (Cush Jumbo) at a prestigious Black-owned firm specializing in police brutality cases. This liberal activist finds herself at a loss not only in her career but also in Trump-era America, and the series doesn’t shy away from real-life legal and social issues while maintaining the sophisticated soapy drama elements that define The Good Wife . Baranski stars alongside Erica Tazel, Mandy Patinkin, John Larroquette, Audra McDonald, Delroy Lindo, and Alan Cumming, and the series concludes with a satisfying finale to Baranski’s 13 years as Diane. Watch The Good Fight on Paramount+ .
Scandal (2012–2018)
By the time “Scandal” premiered, Shonda Rhimes was already a powerful producer and writer with several successful seasons of ” Grey’s Anatomy,” but it was the combination of political intrigue and sexy, soapy drama that cemented her brand and place at the top of the modern television landscape. Kerry Washington plays Olivia Pope, the head of the Washington, D.C., crisis management firm Olivia Pope & Associates (OPA), the go-to person when a PR disaster strikes. To understand the scale of the situation, consider that Tony Goldwyn plays Fitzgerald Grant III, who is both the President of the United States and Olivia’s lover. It was here that Raamla Mohamed, showrunner of “Reasonable Doubts,” honed her skills as a writer and producer. Watch “Scandal” on Hulu andNetflix .
Boston Law Firm (2004–2008)
This at times surreal legal drama from David E. Kelley, technically a spinoff of The Practice , examines legal cases straight out of the headlines through the eyes of the lawyers at the prestigious (fictional) law firm of Crane, Poole & Schmidt. James Spader plays Alan Shore, a well-intentioned but highly questionable lawyer who teams up with the firm’s eccentric and narcissistic partner, Denny Crane (William Shatner), who is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s but determined to maintain his masculine image. The friendship between them, despite their starkly opposed views, keeps the legal drama alive, as does the presence of Candice Bergen, René Auberjonois, John Larroquette, and Taraji P. Henson in the lead roles. Watch Boston Legal on Hulu .
Law on Lydia the Poet (2023–2026)
I always love a little something a little out of the ordinary, so here’s a legal drama centered around one of the first female lawyers in modern history. This gripping and action-packed crime drama (largely) dramatizes the life of the real-life Lydia Poet , Italy’s first female lawyer, who was disbarred at the series’ opening in 1883 because A FEMALE LAWYER?! WHAT? While struggling with this decision, she takes a job at her brother’s law firm, where, of course, she’s the brains behind the operation, solving major cases in the grand style of the era (and with a healthy dose of sex, of course).Watch “Lydia Poet Law” on Netflix .
The Lincoln Lawyer (2022–)
What if it’s a lawyer… but from the trunk of a car? Have we seen that before? Gimmick aside, this is a solid legal drama from genre master David E. Kelley, based on a series of novels by the equally reliable Michael Connelly. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo plays Mickey Haller, a recovering addict who inherits the business of a murdered colleague. He teams up with Izzy Letts (Jazz Raycole), another recovering addict and former client, to help her with her case and support her sobriety. Meanwhile, he struggles to secure joint custody of their daughter with his first ex-wife (Neve Campbell), now a prosecutor, and ultimately hires his second ex-wife (Becki Newton) as a paralegal. Looking for a gripping legal drama and a twisted personal story? Then this is the place for you.Watch The Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix.