Common Sense Media Review
By Monique Jones
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Standard legal drama scores points for representation.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Lincoln Lawyer
What's the Story?
Legal drama abounds in THE LINCOLN LAWYER, focusing on lawyer Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo). Mickey is trying to bounce back from a surfing accident and drug addiction, and his second chance comes amid tragedy -- his friend's murder. His friend left his legal practice to Mickey, who now has a ton of new cases and a new lease on his career. But as he works his old colleague's cases, he tries to figure out who is behind the murder.
Is It Any Good?
The show is definitely bingeable, especially if you love legal dramas and are a fan of David E. Kelley's work (Ally McBeal, The Practice, Boston Legal, to name a few). There's nothing too extraordinary about the series -- it's pretty standard fare. But as far as "standard" goes, it's entertaining and light enough to keep you coming back, similar to USA's "Blue Skies" era of programming (like Suits, White Collar, etc.).
The Lincoln Lawyer does change things up by having Mexican actor Manuel Garcia-Rulfo in the proverbial driver's seat. The role of Mickey Haller could easily have gone to a White actor (Matthew McConaughey played him in the 2011 movie), but Garcia-Rulfo provides a different spin on the character, potentially bringing in a Latino audience. Other characters of color show up in the series as well, most notably Mickey's client-turned-driver Izzy (Jazz Raycole) and Detective Raymond Griggs (Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine). Despite the edges forward in representation, the series doesn't break much more new ground. The Lincoln Lawyer's focus is on legal drama escapism, and if that's all you want, that's what you'll get in spades.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the importance of teamwork in the series. Why is teamwork so central to Mickey's life?
How does Mickey demonstrate empathy and compassion? How does it affect his work?
How does friendship figure into The Lincoln Lawyer?
How does The Lincoln Lawyer portray racial diversity?
How is Mickey as a father? How does he excel and where does he need work?
TV Details
- Premiere date : May 13, 2022
- Cast : Manuel Garcia-Rulfo , Neve Campbell , Becki Newton , Angus Sampson
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Empathy , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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