4 Times Law Dominated Pop Culture (in a Good Way)

With TV dramas like Law & Order running for nearly two decades, law has always been popular in everyday entertainment. Granted, shows like Law & Order are old news; there are new kids on the block when it comes to law in the media, and we think you need to meet them.

Over the past few years, documentary film makers and podcasters have been on a roll with finding controversial court cases that are generating a lot of buzz in the media. These court cases are engaging people with the legal system in an entirely new way, inspiring them to be more involved in the justice system, and generating a tons of lengthy forum discussion. All great things for the field of law, if you ask me.

If you're a sucker for an interesting legal drama, check out this list of must-watch media:

Making a Murderer

Making a Murderer is the most recent Netflix craze that has taken pop culture by storm over the past few months (and it's absolutely worth the hype). Steven Avery life has been laid out for us end-to-end and, seriously, we need answers: Is he innocent? Is he guilty? And what the heck happened to Teresa Halbach?!

Initially, Avery was convicted of a crime that he was (very obviously) framed for. He was then early released from jail after 18 years, thanks to a DNA test that finally proved his innocence. Fast-forward a few years and Steven Avery is on trial again… for the same crime. This documentary pieces together scenes from the investigations, trials, and interviews to craft a truly thought-provoking show that you won't be able to stop watching.

The Jinx

The HBO documentary series about Robert Durst created quite a buzz when it first aired. Durst was accused of the murder of 3 separate individuals: his first wife, a writer, and his neighbor but, the ultimate question is, did he do it?

Andrew Jarecki, the director of this documentary, was able to gather a incredible amount of informational footage, including news clips, police and security evidence, and was even able to conduct interviews with Robert Durst himself. In the truly jaw-dropping final episode of this series, Jarecki landed an interview with Durst that finally became a crucial part of his sentencing, but that’s all we can tell you! You’ll have to watch for yourself to find out how it ends.

Serial

This investigative podcast conducted by Sarah Koenig has recently started its second season after gaining immense popularity during the latter half of 2014. In both seasons, Koenig finds compelling cases to investigate and pieces together the story in the most engaging, can’t-stop-listening kind of way. She gathers information from the trial, news footage, and through interviews with those involved in the case and eloquently explains the case from her own unique perspective.

With every episode of Serial, you’ll find yourself on the edge of your seat, not knowing what to expect along the way, but you’ll be completely engrossed in the victim’s experiences and you’ll just have to know how it ends. Serial has played an influential role in the justice system as well, as Serial’s Season 1 was able to unveil evidence that led to a retrial of the main character’s murder conviction. As you can see, this podcast changed his life (literally), and it might just change yours too.

Hamilton

Who would have ever imagined they'd see Alexander Hamilton rapping his way through life? Well, Lin-Manuel Miranda did, and he formed that vision into a truly sensational, must-see, hip-hop Broadway musical!

This new Broadway show is based off of Alexander Hamilton’s autobiography and pays a well-deserved tribute to the life of this political great. Hamilton is selling out shows left and right and has been highly favored by critics. Looks like Miranda, the author, director, and star of the show, has fully succeeded in making history cool again!

Are you familiar with any of these shows? What's your opinion on each of the cases? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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