Ally McBeal vs. Real Life

Thanks to my Ipad and Netflix I have been able to actually watch something other than Nick Jr. at night. I am currently catching up on recent shows as well as watching a few oldies. Some of my favorite oldies have been:

My So Called Life





I obsessed over this show in High School and had the biggest crush on Jordan Catalano


I have also been watching the Wonder Years.


I may have also had a crush on Kevin Arnold in junior high.




However, this brings me to........... Ally McBeal.





It run from 1997 to 2002. I don't really recall watching it that much. However, it did come out my junior year in college, and that was right about the time I decided to go to law school. Now that I am a ten year attorney, I now see just how unrealistic the show is. Not that I assume all TV shows depict the real world, but I do recall thinking......... wow practicing law looks like fun after watching this show.

Therefore, I would like to compare the real world (or at least my experience) practicing law vs. Ally McBeal.

1. The chances that you will be fired from your job and walk out on the street right after you have been fired and run into an old law school buddy that offers to double your salary to come join his firm WILL NEVER HAPPEN IN REAL LIFE.

2. You will never be asked to co-chair a million dollar jury trial the night before it starts and be responsible for cross examining the main witness and deliver closing arguments.

3. The same pleadings from that trial WILL NOT consist of four manila folders. A million dollar jury trial will consume your life for years and will average at least 30 boxes.

4. You can not just brush up on an area of law (corporate tax law) and deliver the exact loop hole to that law in an hour and present the same to a new multimillion dollar client in an hour (with a power point).

5. Within the first few hours of starting your "new" job there is no way in hell you can be prepared for a temporary injunction hearing. Also, a temporary injunction hearing involves more than arguments. It is a mini trial i.e. witnesses and formal evidence.

Okay.............. that is just from watching the first two episodes. I am officially over Ally McBeal. I didn't like it really when it was on; however, now watching it again I realized just how stupid it was the first time.


It always cracks me up watching a show about the law because it is just so unrealistic most of the time. I know TV is supposed to be an escape and they have to take some leaps of faith; however, it still makes me want to gag if anyone thinks the practice of law is like anything they have seen in a movie or TV. That is just my two cents for what it is worth.