The essential episodes of L.A. Law

Watch these 15 in order and you've got L.A. Law — each pick states its reason.

  1. 01

    S01E01 · Pilot · September 15, 1986 · 2h

    Pilot9.0

    When Arnie and Roxanne found in the office is the junior partner Norman Chaney lying dead in his desk.

  2. 02

    S01E02 · Top rated · October 3, 1986 · 1h

    Those Lips, That Eye9.5

  3. 03

    S01E04 · Top rated · October 17, 1986 · 1h

    The Princess and the Wiener King9.5

  4. 04

    S01E08 · Top rated · November 14, 1986 · 1h

    Gibbon Take9.5

  5. 05

    S01E22 · Season 1 peak · April 9, 1987 · 1h

    Pigmalion10.0

  6. 06

    S02E06 · Season 2 peak · November 19, 1987 · 1h

    Auld L'Anxiety9.5

  7. 07

    S03E01 · Season 3 peak · November 3, 1988 · 1h

    Hey, Lick Me Over9.5

  8. 08

    S04E03 · Season 4 peak · November 16, 1989 · 1h

    When Irish Eyes Are Smiling9.5

  9. 09

    S05E01 · Season 5 peak · October 18, 1990 · 1h

    The Bitch Is Back10.0

  10. 10

    S06E13 · Season 6 peak · February 20, 1992 · 1h

    Steal It Again, Sam10.0

  11. 11

    S07E13 · Season 7 peak · February 18, 1993 · 1h

    Hello and Goodbye9.7

    A widow charges a news photographer with encouraging her late husband's suicide; Mullaney maintains a vigil by his father's hospital bed; and authorities are summoned to locate baby Lucy.

  12. 12

    S07E14 · Top rated · February 25, 1993 · 1h

    Where There's a Will9.7

    McKenzie pursues a witness who could re-open Osgood's case; a murder-for-hire case involves Paros with a family friend; star-crossed lovers cross literary swords in the courtroom.

  13. 13

    S07E15 · Top rated · April 1, 1993 · 1h

    F.O.B.9.7

    Becker takes on a boxer's wife as a client; Kelsey's client boasts of Clinton Administration connections; and Morales defends a man on trial for murdering his daughter's rapist.

  14. 14

    S08E01 · Season 8 peak · October 7, 1993 · 1h

    Book of Renovation, Chapter 19.5

    Candidates for new associates are interviewed; and on the docket is a lawyer's sex-discrimination suit and a murder case.

  15. 15

    S08E22 · Series finale · May 19, 1994 · 1h

    Finish Line9.0

    It's case closed for the Emmy-winning series with a retirement announcement from McKenzie, news that couldn't come at a worse time for Becker.

Shows like L.A. Law

The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.

  1. 01Drama·Crime·LegalThe essential episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999–presentSame network — NBC·Also on Hulu7.9
  2. 02Drama·Crime·LegalThe essential episodes of The Good Wife2009–2016·CBSStreaming on Paramount Plus PremiumThe Good Wife follows Alicia Florrick, a wife and mother who boldly assumes full responsibility for her family and re-enters the workforce after her husband's very public sex and political corruption scandal lands him…8.1
  3. 03Drama·Crime·LegalThe essential episodes of Law & Order1990–presentSame network — NBC·Streaming on Netflix7.3
  4. 04Drama·Crime·LegalThe essential episodes of Better Call Saul2015–2022·AMCStreaming on NetflixBetter Call Saul is the prequel to the award-winning series Breaking Bad, set six years before Saul Goodman became Walter White's lawyer.8.6
  5. 05Drama·Crime·LegalThe essential episodes of Goliath2016–2021Streaming on Amazon Prime VideoOnce a powerful lawyer, Billy McBride is now burned out and washed up, spending more time in a bar than a courtroom.8.0
  6. 06Drama·Crime·LegalThe essential episodes of Bull2016–2022·CBSStreaming on Paramount Plus PremiumBull stars Michael Weatherly as Dr. Jason Bull in a drama inspired by the early career of Dr.7.1
AlertsRenewal news, premiere dates and streaming moves. One confirmation email first — unsubscribe any time.