Legal dramas have been on the rise recently and the plots are getting better and better. So, I investigated and realized that those that hit me deep were actually written by actual professionals. So, here’s a list of legal K-Dramas written by people from the field that will make you think, cry, hope, despair and so much more. Each and every of them is raw and realistic, authentic and relatable.
Miss Hammurabi (2018) & The Devil Judge (2021)
Screenwriter: Moon Yoo Seok
We start with one of my all-time favorite legal dramas that goes back to 2018. I’m talking of course about the excellent Miss Hammurabi. This is when the whole redefinition of the legal genre has truly started in my opinion.
Adapted from the novel of the same name, the drama was penned by Moon Yoo Seok. Though he’s now resigned as a judge to officially become a full-time screenwriter, Moon Yoo Seok spent 23 years of his career in the legal system as an acting judge.
Miss Hammurabi revolves around an idealistic rookie judge who’s confronted with complex cases. Each of the stories depicted puts you in a real dilemma and forces you to put yourself in the judges’ shoes. How would you assess the case and judge it? The plot clearly stems from experience and reality which makes the story even better.
We also have to thank Moon Yoo Seok for the 2021 drama The Devil Judge which depicts a dystopian society in which trials are aired on TV and the judgement is up to the public. Once again here, the plot pushes you to reflect on society as a whole, the negative downsides of the law, but also the concept of justice.
Moon Yoo Seok’s next drama Pro Bono starring Jung Kyung Ho is expected to air in 2025, and I’m already excited to see it!
Good Partner (2024)
Screenwriter: Kim Yoo Na
The 2024 hit drama follows a veteran attorney and a rookie lawyer specialized in divorce cases. The popular show was written by Kim Yoo Na who’s herself a divorce lawyer. In the show, divorce cases are an emotional roller coaster emphasizing the complexity of human relationships, especially marital ones. There’s no real winner or loser in the end.
Good Partner‘s success gave way to a rising amount of legal professionals trying their chance in entertainment. Proof is that experience and authenticity are rewarded, as the cast and crew received no less than 7 awards among which the Grand Prize at the 2024 SBS Drama Awards. The good news is that Kim Yoo Na’s work is not finished yet, as the drama announced a second season.
Law and the City (2025)
Screenwriter: Lee Seung Hyun
Following the immense success of Good Partner in 2024, the entertainment industry started to bet more and more on legal professionals to pen their dramas. The public appreciates realism, credibility and truth which has a tendency to increase viewership ratings of these shows.
In that context, Lee Seung Hyun, a practicing lawyer turned screenwriter, released Law and the City. Combining the slice-of-life vibe of Hospital Playlist and the real-life experience of a lawyer, the drama follows 5 attorneys who work in the same building in Seocho-dong – the most famous neighborhood for legal professionals in Seoul. Characters grow as they work on various cases.
Though no second season has been announced, the drama offers a new type of story for the genre, focusing solely on characters’ evolution and their work. Law and the City explores how cases influence characters’ life and career, highlighting that the legal field is always full of surprises.
Beyond the Bar (2025)
Screenwriter: Park Mi Hyeon
Beyond the Bar is one of the best legal dramas of 2025 in my opinion. The show revolves around a rookie lawyer and her mentor who both grow as individuals and law practitioners. Although the plot may sound redundant with others we have for this kind of dramas, there’s something quite truthful, genuine and warm about the show that makes it like no other.
Penned by an actual lawyer named Park Mi Hyeon, the drama focuses on every day dilemmas ordinary people go through and the moral ambiguities that go with them. There’s no evil character, no unnecessary drama, no boring moment. The show is all about law and love under all its forms.
Contrary to other previous legal dramas that make characters embark on a quest against evil individuals, Beyond the Bar sheds light on normal people with whom it’s easy to identify. The story is relatable and heartwarming. I really hope we’ll get a second season of this drama.
Once Upon a Drama 