The legal profession has produced some of the most influential and well-known figures throughout history. Individuals like Abraham Lincoln, Clarence B. Jones, and Robert Kardashian have made their mark through their remarkable achievements and notable contributions to the field of law.
From defending freedom fighters to prominent politicians and celebrities, famous lawyers have not only played a pivotal role in shaping our society, but these courtroom stars fought hard to preserve justice and uphold the truth with grace and prowess. To honor their legacy, we took a closer look at some of the most iconic legal practitioners to ever don a barrister’s gown.
Celebrity Lawyers Who Made History
Robert Kardashian
After receiving his law degree from the University of San Diego, Robert Kardashian took some time off from his legal career to focus on other businesses. Following O.J. Simpson’s arrest in 1994, however, he decided to get back into the game and participate in the case that would place him among the top high-profile attorneys in history.
Kardashian played a key role in the trial, specifically, the controversial decision to have Simpson try on a glove that had been found at the crime scene. While the verdict in the case remains controversial, Kardashian’s involvement made him a household name and turned him into a celebrity in his own right.
Anne Bremner
With over three decades of experience, Bremner has built a reputation as one of America’s most famous attorneys in the field of criminal defense. She is also recognized as one of the nation’s most prominent legal analysts and was named among the top 100 trial lawyers in the country by the National Trial Lawyers Association.
Bremner’s expertise in criminal defense is wide-ranging, and she has represented clients in a variety of high-profile cases, including cases involving white-collar crime, homicide, and even celebrities accused of sexual assault. In addition to her work as a defense attorney, Bremner is also an advocate for social justice and has been involved in numerous civil rights cases.
Robert Shapiro
When it comes to famous celebrity lawyers, Robert Shapiro’s name is one of the most well-known in history. He gained national attention for his role in the O.J. Simpson murder trial, as part of his legal ‘Dream Team’.
His legal expertise and strategic approach to the trial helped secure Simpson’s acquittal, which remains one of the most talked-about and controversial verdicts in American legal history. Shapiro also represented baseball star Darryl Strawberry and several other celebrities with drug abuse issues.
Gloria Allred
As American civil rights attorney Gloria Allred has participated in numerous important cases representing famous clients. The case that earned her the title of one of America’s most famous defense attorneys was her representation of the women who accused Donald Trump of sexual assault and harassment during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Allred held press conferences with some of the accusers and called on Trump to respond to their allegations. While the accusations did not prevent Trump from being elected, Allred’s involvement in the case brought renewed attention to the issue of sexual misconduct and harassment, and further elevated her profile as a leading advocate for women’s rights.
Claudia Gordon
Former President Barack Obama’s key advisor for disability issues, and a lawyer for the Department of Homeland Security, Claudia Gordon, is not only one of the most famous lawyers in the US, but she also made the list of famous deaf people, being the first deaf African American woman to graduate from law school.
Despite facing discrimination due to her deafness, Gordon went on to graduate from Howard University School of Law and has since become a leading voice for disability rights. Thanks to her work, she is known as one of the most famous black female lawyers who has paved the way for other deaf and disabled individuals to pursue careers in law and advocacy.
Mark Geragos
With more than 30 years of experience in criminal defense, Mark Geragos is not just a name amongst famous entertainment lawyers, but he is a legend and one that has been associated with numerous high-stakes cases. Michael Jackson, Chris Brown, and recovered borderline personality disorder celebrity, Winona Ryder are only some of his clients.
Geragos is known for his tenacity and his ability to build compelling cases that often result in favorable outcomes for his clients. He is also recognized for his strategic approach to defending his clients, an author and legal commentator, regularly appearing on television to provide analysis on high-profile legal cases.
Shawn Chapman Holley
From alcoholic movie stars like Lindsay Lohan to pop culture phenomenon Kim Kardashian and actress Paris Hilton, Holley is one of the most famous Hollywood lawyers who has been praised for her legal skills and particularly her ability to handle complex cases involving celebrities.
Holley gained widespread recognition for her role in the O.J. Simpson trial, where she served as a member of his defense team. Her work in the case helped secure Simpson’s acquittal and cemented her reputation as one of the most skilled and respected criminal defense attorneys in the country.
Dan Webb
When it comes to famous lawyers, former US Attorney Dan Webb has not only been declared one of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America by The National Law Journal, but his work on the Iran-Contra trials is studied even today. Most notably, his cross-examination of President Ronald Reagan put him among the top ten criminal defense attorneys of his time.
Webb was also involved in a number of notable civil cases. He represented the Chicago Tribune in a landmark case against the Illinois Attorney General’s office, which resulted in the release of sealed court documents in the 2004 corruption trial of former Governor Rod Blagojevich.
Johnnie Cochran
An outstanding trial lawyer, civil rights activist, and philanthropist, Johnnie Cochran joined the gang of most famous lawyers in 1995 when he appeared as a lead defense attorney in the O.J. Simpson murder trial.
Prior to the Simpson trial, Cochran was involved in several other high-profile cases, including the defense of celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, and Snoop Dogg. He was also a prominent civil rights attorney, having represented victims of police brutality and racial discrimination.
Mary Jo White
One of the best lawyers of all time and the first and only woman to serve and hold the position of US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Mary Jo White is widely known for her extensive legal career, especially in the areas of securities litigation and white-collar crime.
White has been involved in some of the most distinguished cases in recent history, including the prosecution of terrorist suspects in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and the investigation into financial fraud committed by Bernie Madoff.
Most Famous Lawyers of All Time
Abraham Lincoln
Before becoming the 16th President of America, Abraham Lincoln was a successful lawyer known for his sharp legal mind and impressive oratory skills. He practiced law in Springfield, Illinois, where he handled a wide variety of cases, including criminal defense, civil lawsuits, and even patent disputes.
However, criminal cases were not his forte. In fact, he had lost several up until 1857, when he finally made a breakthrough by taking the case of Duff Armstrong.
Thanks to his exceptional cross-examination skills, Lincoln smashed the key witness’s testimony using an almanac to prove they could not have witnessed the murder because there was not enough moonlight at the time of the murder. That was the case that made him one of the greatest lawyers of all time and earned him the title Honest Abe.
Mahatma Gandhi
Many know Gandhi as an activist and leader of India’s independence movement, but few know that he was also a lawyer who started his career in 1891 in London.
He later moved to South Africa, where he spent 21 years defending Indian immigrants against discriminatory laws and advocating for their rights to vote and own property. Thanks to his legal work there, he became one of the most famous lawyers in history.
His experience as a lawyer also gave him a deeper understanding of the legal system and the ways in which it could be used to effect change. This would prove invaluable to Gandhi upon his return to India, where he began his political activism, based on nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience.
Thurgood Marshall
One of the best and most famous civil rights lawyers and the first African American to serve on the US Supreme Court, Thurgood Marshall, made history by arguing many landmark civil rights cases before the Supreme Court. Brown v. Board of Education is his most famous one, which struck down the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’ in public education.
Marshall’s legal career was characterized by his tireless efforts to challenge racial discrimination and inequality through the law. He argued 32 cases before the Supreme Court and won 29 of them, establishing a legacy as one of the most effective and greatest lawyers in history.
Clarence Darrow
Known for his staunch advocacy for civil liberties and progressive causes, Darrow became one of the most famous criminal lawyers in the early 1900s, when he successfully defended labor leader Eugene V. Debs against charges of violating federal antitrust laws.
Later on, he represented many other high-profile clients, including Leopold and Loeb, two wealthy teenagers who were accused of murder.
Darrow’s legal career was marked by his unwavering commitment to defending the rights of the accused, and his ability to use the courtroom as a platform to advance his political and social views. He was also a gifted public speaker and writer, and his speeches and essays on topics such as evolution and the death penalty continue to be studied and debated to this day.
Louis Brandeis
The first Jewish person to be appointed to the US Supreme Court and one of the most famous lawyers in history, Louis Dembitz Brandeis, is known for progressive legal theories and advocacy for social and economic reform. He was also called the ‘People’s Lawyer’ because he championed the causes of the marginalized and oppressed.
Brandeis’s legal career, which spanned over five decades, made him one of the most well-known lawyers because he had taken several groundbreaking cases, including Muller v. Oregon, which established the constitutionality of protective labor laws for women, and Whitney v. California, which affirmed the freedom of speech and expression under the First Amendment.
He also pioneered the use of social science data and expert testimony in legal cases and was a strong advocate for the right to privacy.
Actors Who Are Lawyers in Real Life
Did you know that Jerry Springer and Gerard Butler have a law degree? In fact, after obtaining his law degree from the Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, Springer actually worked on Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign. Butler also worked as a lawyer for a prestigious law firm in Edinburgh before he decided to pursue his acting career.
In researching famous lawyers who’ve represented celebrities and politicians, we came across a few celebrities who studied law, passed the bar, and actually worked as lawyers before they gave it all up for Hollywood. To send you off, here’s a list of celebrity lawyers:
1. Rebel Wilson – University of New South Wales
2. Geraldo Rivera – Brooklyn Law School, New York City
3. Josh Saviano – Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University
4. Gemma Chan – Worcester College, Oxford
5. Ozzie Nelson – Rutgers School of Law, Newark, NJ
6. John Cleese – Downing College, University of Cambridge
7. Ben Stein – Yale Law School, Yale University
