It’s no secret that Americans love a courtroom. At least, the ultra dramatic or oddly funny courtrooms that are cleverly portrayed on our televisions every night. From the intense legal showdowns to the daily lives of the quirky lawyers, the stories of legal dramas and comedies really draw viewers in, and their easy-to-root-for protagonists keep them hooked.
This fascination with law (even through the TV screen) got us thinking about the most well-known lawyers from fiction. Specifically, answering the question of which ones resonate with Americans the most. Is it the smooth-talking Harvey Specter from Suits or the hopeless romantic Ally McBeal? Maybe it’s one of the most beloved of them all, the hard-nosed Law & Order favorite, Jack McCoy.
Fortunately, there’s no shortage of fictional lawyers to choose from, so we decided to have a little fun and analyze the regional interest in a bunch of them over the past 12 months using Google Trends search data. We were able to determine which are the most popular in every state and which takes the cake as America’s go-to legal expert.
So, which legal eagles reign supreme in your neck of the woods? Let’s find out.
The Most Popular Fictional Lawyer in Every U.S. State
From Matt Murdock to Jackie Chiles, lawyers are depicted in about a thousand different ways in movies and TV shows. But, according to our analysis, there are a few that stand out above the rest in the hearts of Americans. Here’s what we found:
- Harvey Specter (Suits)
- Harvey Specter’s sharp wit and relentless pursuit of success make him a fan favorite, especially in the Midwest and Northeast. He’s the most popular fictional lawyer across the country, coming in as the favorite in eight states: Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, South Dakota, and Texas.
- Matt Murdock (Daredevil)
- Known as the “Man Without Fear,” Matt Murdock’s dual life as a lawyer by day and vigilante by night has made him the second-most popular fictional lawyer in the country, particularly so in Southern states. He’s the top-searched in seven states: California, Maryland, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Wyoming.
- Michael Ross (Suits)
- Alongside his mentor, Harvey Specter, Michael Ross is another beloved fictional lawyer from the still-popular legal dramedy, Suits. He also stands out in the Midwest, as he’s the most popular in 5 states: Arkansas, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and West Virginia.
- Louis Litt (Suits)
- Another lawyer viewers can’t get enough of on Suits is Louis Litt. His complex personality and unforgettable catchphrases resonate with viewers across the country as he’s the top-searched in 4 states: Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, and North Carolina.
- Ally McBeal (Ally McBeal)
- Her unique blend of quirkiness and legal acumen has made Ally McBeal a favorite across the country, but especially in the West. She’s the most popular in 4 states: Washington D.C., Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. Her relevance is quite the feat when you consider that Ally McBeal has been off the air for more than two decades now.
- Alicia Florrick (The Good Wife)
- The journey from a stay-at-home mom to a powerful lawyer that Alicia Florrick undertakes in The Good Wife still resonates (especially in the South), as she’s also the most popular in four states: Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
- Marshall Eriksen (How I Met Your Mother): The most popular in 3 states.
- Unlike the others in our list so far, Marshall Eriksen’s role as a lawyer is just a minor subplot in How I Met Your Mother. Yet, his approachable Midwestern nature has made him a lasting favorite in three states especially: Colorado, Idaho, and Kansas.
Lawyers from one show in particular, Suits, dominated popularity across the country which shouldn’t be a huge surprise since it gained enough of a following after its initial run ended in 2019 to get a reboot that was announced in 2024.
But with representation from comedies, dramas, and even superhero shows, it seems that Americans don’t necessarily care what setting the legal battles are happening in, they just love the lawyers. And we can’t blame them.
Closing Thoughts
America’s fascination with law-themed television is undeniable. The dramatic courtroom battles, the high-stakes negotiations, and (especially) the charismatic lawyers at the center of it all have captivated audiences for decades. From Harvey Specter’s sharp legal maneuvers to Matt Murdock’s vigilante justice, these fictional characters bring complex legal issues to life, making them unforgettable to viewers everywhere.
At Murphy & Practhauser, we understand the power of a compelling legal story. While the lawyers we’ve highlighted are fictional, the dedication, expertise, and passion they embody are very real qualities that we bring to our practice every day. Whether it’s advocating for our clients or fighting for justice, we strive to deliver the same level of commitment and excellence in our legal services that makes these fictional lawyers so beloved.
So, while you may not find us on the big screen, you can count on Murphy & Practhauser to be there when it matters most—right here in the real world with you.
Methodology
To learn more about the popularity of fictional lawyers around the U.S., we compiled a list of about 50 well-known lawyers from popular television shows, movies, and books. We then analyzed the regional interest of the characters using Google Trends search interest from August 2023 to August 2024. To determine the most popular among them in every state, we compared the search interest for every character in every state, head-to-head. We used interest as an indicator of popularity for this study.