David E. Kelly however is the co-creator of L.A. Law and currently of The Practice. The Practice is a relatively new show that aired around the same time as Ally McBeal, and shows a little bit of the human side of being a lawyer. The Practice is defined by the ABC network as "… focusing on the complexity and moral ambiguity of our legal system" (ABC.com). In my opinion this show almost ranks with Law and Order. It does a good job of portraying lawyers and their work, while tying in large moral and ethical issues. The show's prowess is lessened by the incorporation of the lawyer's personal life. The television industry has also recognized the show with An Emmy, a Golden Globe, and the George Foster Peabody Award. This show differs from Law & Order in that it focuses very heavily on the morality of the law. It portrays all the actors as competent and working, by that I mean doing the best for their client, toward a common goal (ABC.com). My mother in law and I are in agreement about this show, she feels that it shows the ethics of lawyering. It also gives an inside view of the battle of what is right for the client vs. pushing the envelope of legality.

Have you ever seen the commercials on television for local attorneys? They all have the same theme, call us, we'll win, and you’ll get paid. They are saying they will do whatever it takes to win for their clients. They come up with annoying theme songs. Take Joel Beiber for example his them songs is "If you're hurt, call Joel Beiber." I think this is stupid and childish, but he obviously gets clients from these commercials. I think that people see these commercials, almost always for personal injury lawyers, in a negative light. Adding to the impression that lawyers are money-grubbing ambulance chasers. This had been a big issue in the 70's. In 1977 the Supreme Court ruled that lawyer were allowed to advertise on television. But the industry has failed to expand there advertising, with the exception of some of the smaller personal injury lawyers (Cook). Some lawyers advertise in a more covert manor. They take sensational cases and use the media's coverage to get their face out there. Take for example Geoffrey Fieger, who has taken on the Jenny Jones Show and the trial of Nate Abraham, which were highly publicized trials.

There is another place that law junkies can get their fill of the legal world. That place is Court TV. This is an entire network dedicated to the law. I find myself glued to the screen. This is the only place that does a better job of portraying lawyers than Law & Order, since the cases and lawyers are real. The drawback to this station is that it only covers the sensational trials. It does not show the District Attorney plodding through his cases of DWI's and domestic violence and all the other mundane tasks that he/she performs.

Court TV recently showcased a 13-year-old Michigan boy being tried for murder. Geoffrey Fieger was defending the young boy. Mr. Fieger, who had successfully sued the Jenny Jones Show over the wrongful death of Scott Amador, who was a guest on the show; he confessed his homosexual love for another man. After the filming of the episode was complete Amador returned home, and three days later, was killed by the man he had confessed his love for. That trial was also on Court TV. I was immediately sucked into this juvenile murder trial broadcast on Court TV. It almost seemed like a mock trial. Mr. Fieger, Like a teacher demonstrating controlling the court, had complete control of the courtroom. He truly was at home in front of the judge and jury. The District Attorney would say "objection, irrelevant." To which she would be immediately met by a boisterous response like "it is relevant." And before the judge had ruled on the objection Fieger is on the move again continuing his line of questioning. I have never seen anything like this. Mr. Fieger is trying to get a young boy completely cleared of the charges of murder, even though he does not deny the fact that the boy fired the weapon that killed a man. However Mr. Fieger embraces the law and uses it as his theater. He is a great actor in a drama about real life with real characters and consequences. Are all courtrooms like this? Is it some big theatrical presentation?

I spent the afternoon of October 13 in a Virginia Circuit Court in Henrico County. I went to the court expecting to see one trial. I was hoping to see an intense drama unfold in front of me, like what I saw on Court TV. Again a dissimilarity between television and real life, day to day, trial work was evident.