Sent to me by email from a reader with permission to post of the following on their behalf:
"Legally Blonde featured prominently at the National Advocacy Center for federal prosecutors during the two-week trial advocacy course I attended as a brand-new AUSA. The scene where Elle cross-examines the stepdaughter was used for how to cross-examine a witness. It's brilliant. Changed my view of that movie. They also showed scenes from MCV, A Few Good Men, and Witness For The Prosecution."
Watched it for the first time Sunday. It had its moments, but ultimately my disbelief suspender wasn't potent enough to get me through things like the crappy job the HLS prof was doing on the defense — not even going through the motions halfway convincingly.
One thing that was fairly realistic: the admissions scene. LSAT 179, GPA 4.0 — “Welcome to Harvard, Elle Woods!”
As I tell law school applicants who ask me for advice, no, sorry, the schools don’t care about your Ph.D., your beautifully written essay, or the nonprofit you started. They care about what U.S. News cares about — your LSAT and GPA.
Cute movie, but I don't think it stands the test of time as other law-related movies do, regardless of their vintage.
Definitely worth watching (but definitely not funny) if you have never seen them: Anatomy of a Murder, Twelve Angry Men, Witness for the Prosecution and Paper Chase, which came out the year I started law school. (Now you can guess how old I am.) I just don't see LB as a classic, certainly not MCV caliber.
Maybe we should write a movie called Courtroom, a riff on Airplane. Casting would be a hoot!
Oh my goodness, I so disagree with you both. I think I need to rewatch The Devil's Advocate so I can properly criticize it, but I'm not sure that I want to!
Anything with Jennifer Coolidge is great (she's currently in "The White Lotus"). . .and her standing up for herself ("I'm keeping the dawwwwg!") at Elle's urging is gold. Great movie.
My children's high school performed Legally Blonde, the musical, several years ago, and I found it just as delightful as the movie. I highly recommend it.
Sent to me by email from a reader with permission to post of the following on their behalf:
"Legally Blonde featured prominently at the National Advocacy Center for federal prosecutors during the two-week trial advocacy course I attended as a brand-new AUSA. The scene where Elle cross-examines the stepdaughter was used for how to cross-examine a witness. It's brilliant. Changed my view of that movie. They also showed scenes from MCV, A Few Good Men, and Witness For The Prosecution."
Underrated legal film. Elle's cross-examination of the stepdaughter should be studied by any lawyer who considers themself to be a trial attorney.
Watched it for the first time Sunday. It had its moments, but ultimately my disbelief suspender wasn't potent enough to get me through things like the crappy job the HLS prof was doing on the defense — not even going through the motions halfway convincingly.
And my fave part of Legally Blonde? How small those HLS class sizes were....
One thing that was fairly realistic: the admissions scene. LSAT 179, GPA 4.0 — “Welcome to Harvard, Elle Woods!”
As I tell law school applicants who ask me for advice, no, sorry, the schools don’t care about your Ph.D., your beautifully written essay, or the nonprofit you started. They care about what U.S. News cares about — your LSAT and GPA.
SOOO true, at least as far as the numeric algorithm goes.
Exactly. It doesn't matter if your 4.0 is in Fashion Merchandising, as long as it's a 4.0!
Cute movie, but I don't think it stands the test of time as other law-related movies do, regardless of their vintage.
Definitely worth watching (but definitely not funny) if you have never seen them: Anatomy of a Murder, Twelve Angry Men, Witness for the Prosecution and Paper Chase, which came out the year I started law school. (Now you can guess how old I am.) I just don't see LB as a classic, certainly not MCV caliber.
Maybe we should write a movie called Courtroom, a riff on Airplane. Casting would be a hoot!
Just watched it last week, very enjoyable still but the brief courtroom “outing” of Enrique (and Chuck) felt a little cringe-y.
Excited for Zach’s guest post on The Devil’s Advocate, the finest portrayal of actual BigLaw life ever committed to film.
Oh my goodness, I so disagree with you both. I think I need to rewatch The Devil's Advocate so I can properly criticize it, but I'm not sure that I want to!
Adore you and your husband, but MCV is the best LEGAL ETHICS movie of all time. The Verdict is a close second.....
Anything with Jennifer Coolidge is great (she's currently in "The White Lotus"). . .and her standing up for herself ("I'm keeping the dawwwwg!") at Elle's urging is gold. Great movie.
My children's high school performed Legally Blonde, the musical, several years ago, and I found it just as delightful as the movie. I highly recommend it.