For the People S1

Update: This is no longer on Showmax. Find your next binge in the full catalogue here.

Lawyer drama shows are given a serious-but-fun overhaul with For The People. Rather than seasoned courtroom veterans, the action follows brand-new prosecutors and federal public defenders learning the ropes in the Southern District Of New York Federal Court.

Nicknamed the Mother Court, the up-and-coming law practitioners are being educated the hard way. There’s no time for asking questions. You come prepared, you come on time – or you don’t come at all.

There are loads of newbie actors taking the lead roles, which is refreshing because it’s new stock in a new show with a new dynamic. And seeing these fresh faces portray fresh-new lawyers juggling important cases sets For The People apart from other courtroom dramas.

If that’s not enticing, it’s from Shondaland – headed up by series creator legend Shonda Rhimes (Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, The Fixer and loads more).

HollywoodReporter.com’s Daniel Fienberg sums it up well: “Don’t go expecting sensationalist procedural melodrama often associated with Shondaland and you might find yourself appreciating the simple pleasures of a deep ensemble cast delivering reams of clever dialogue and grappling superficially with the legal issues of the day.”