National Jurist -September 2008 - (Page 6)
ENTERTAINMENT 10 legal movies to watch before you graduate There are numerous rankings of legal movies, books, web sites, and even blogs. Christine Corcos, associate professor at Louisiana State University Law Center, gives us her Top 10 legal movies she believes all U.S. law students should watch before graduating — starting with No. 10. #10 Adam’s Rib (1949) I could have put Twelve Angry Men here, but the list is top-heavy with dramas, and Adam’s Rib is a funny and farcical look at the legal system, marriage and the meaning of equality in our society. #9 Witness for the Prosecution (1957) al The film is set at the Central Criminal Court and features he English trial practice and the m pageantry of a British courtroom uproceeding, but U. S. law stun dents will still find practices in common depicted in the film. #8 Reversal of Fortune (1990) A terrific movie about a real case based on Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz’s account of his successful attempt to reverse the attempted murder conw. viction of Claus von Bulow. de Very few movies are made nd about appellate courts, and ne even fewer are good. This one is both. #7 Death and the Maiden (1994) The film explores the nature of revenge, the usefulness of truth commissions and war crimes trials, and the possibility of justice under any legal system. #6 Presumed Innocent (1990) This film vividly brought the question of the presumption of innocence before the viewing public. #5 To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) This film, set in the pre civil rights era, tells a story that was all too often true not just in the South but elsewhere in the country — the trial of a black man for a crime that he didn’t commit, simply on the basis of his race. #4 A Man for All Seasons (196 (1966) T This film is based on the Ro Robert Bolt play. It dramatizes the life and death of lawyer Sir T Thomas More (Paul Scofield), on one of Henry VIII’s many Lord C Chancellors. #3 Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) This is the best film ever made about judges and judging. The film poses important questions about the responsibili ity of judges who disagree both p philosophically and morally with la laws they are mandated to enforce. T The contrast and the similarities be e between the judgers and the judged are are particularly poignant. #2 Inherit the Wind (1960) This film is based on a real case, T Tennessee v. Scopes, and dramati tizes the fight over the teaching of e evolution in United States public schools. #1 Anatomy of a Murder (1959) This movie, based on the factbased novel of the same name by Robert Traver, combines wonderfully written and acted scenes of legal ethics, trial strategy and courtroom drama with serious questions about the nature of justice and the purpose of the adversarial legal system. It Internet awards a t d Webby to law firm OUT-LAW.COM won the Internet’s most prestigious award — a Webby — in the category of Best Law Website. It’s the first time that a law firm has won a Webby in the awards’ 12-year history. “It is thrilling to have this recognition for what we do,” said Struan Robertson, editor of OUT-LAW.COM, in a release. “It is even nicer that users have already been sending in their congratulations.” The other nominees shortlisted for ‘best law website’ were US firm Shearman & Sterling LLP, the American Bar Association (ABA) Journal, the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and Pro Bono Net. The ABA Journal won the voted-for People’s Voice award in the law category. Hailed by The New York Times as ‘the Oscars of the internet’, the Webbys receive worldwide media attention and are judged by a panel, which includes Simpsons creator Matt Groening and movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. Check them out Best law website nominees 2007-08 Recruiting Campaign — http://usrecruiting.shearman.com ABA Journal — http://www.abajournal.com Jurist — http://jurist.law.pitt.edu LawHelp — http://www.lawhelp.org OUT-LAW.COM — http://www.out-law.com 6 THE NATIONAL JURIST September 2008
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