JDs Rising

By Michael Goodwin

For most new law grads, the end of law school means the beginning of bar exam preparation. Taking a break may seem ill-advised, with so much to soak in about UCC remedies, hearsay exceptions, and the exclusionary rule. Thankfully, Hollywood provides a plethora of choices that will satisfy your need for escapism and alleviate your guilt at being idle. In no particular order, here are five selections that might (but probably won’t) teach you something useful:

My Cousin Vinny: Friends Billy and Stan are accused of murder in a remote Alabama county. To defend them, they retain Billy’s cousin Vinny, a streetwise New Yorker who has never tried a case. In the space of a few days, Vinny manages to absorb an entire treatise on criminal procedure, prepare a defense, and evade a judge’s inquiries into his credentials. He learns a bit about the rules of evidence, too. If Vinny can pass, so can you. Caution: Vinny’s trial success is movie magic. It doesn’t happen in real life, as my JDs Rising colleague Brett Clark pointed out in a previous post.

Body Heat: Regarded by many as the best movie ever involving the Rule Against Perpetuities. Although the majority of Ned Racine’s time is consumed by drinking and carousing, he also finds time to maintain a law practice. He begins an affair with the wife of a rich businessman, and together they hatch a plan to kill the woman’s husband. There is, however, a small, technical issue with the husband’s will. Don’t understand how the RAP is violated? Keep studying. Can’t spot Ned’s ethical flaws? Choose another profession. Please.

Anatomy of a Murder: Frederick Manion killed Barney Quill. His only hope is to plead insanity. Can his lawyer, Paul Biegler, pull it off? Consider the evidence and decide if Frederick would be insane under your jurisdiction’s rule. You might even get an irresistible impulse to write an essay about it.

Intolerable Cruelty: What are the marital property rules in your state? It doesn’t matter if Miles Massey is involved. Massey is a high-flying California divorce lawyer whose dashing facade is undone by the ex of one of his clients.

To Kill a Mockingbird: In the midst of bar study, sometimes you need a reminder of why you wanted to be a lawyer in the first place. If Atticus Finch wasn’t your inspiration to go to law school, maybe he can at least inspire you to do a few more practice questions.

Got a favorite? Post in the comments below.