Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Drama with a passion for justice; teens and up.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Practice
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE PRACTICE is an award-winning series that mixes drama, quick wit, and dry humor in order to tell a story about the professional lives of the attorneys at the Boston law firm of Donnell, Young, Dole, and Frutt. Led by Bobby Donnell (Dylan McDermott) -- whose able partners are Eugene Young (Steve Harris), Lindsay Dole (Kelli Williams), and Ellenor Frutt (Camryn Manheim) -- the firm passionately represents litigants in high-profile criminal and civil cases. Among those who add to the drama are supporting characters like loyal attorney Jimmy Berluti (Michael Badalucco) and Assistant District Attorney Helen Gamble (Lara Flynn Boyle). The cases they take on are rarely mundane, and many present complex issues with strong political and moral implications -- not surprising, considering that the show was created by David E. Kelley, who has a reputation for churning out quirky, complicated dramedies like Ally McBeal and Picket Fences. Over the course of the series' run, many of the original characters left, to be replaced by new partners and colleagues, including recent law school graduate Jamie Stringer (Jessica Capshaw) and -- during the final season -- morally challenged lawyer Alan Shore (James Spader).
Is It Any Good?
The firm's cases often introduce strong and sometimes-disturbing subject matter -- including sexual harassment, race-related crime, and capital murder. But by dealing with these issues, the show poses some very serious questions about how we view our society and our legal system. The Practice looks at how the modern justice system copes with society's changing -- and complicated -- legal, moral, and ethical issues. Yes, viewers get a glimpse of the lawyers' personal lives, but in the end the series is really about the practice of law and the professional (and not-so-professional...) relationships that emerge as a result of working together within the legal profession.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the realities of the legal profession. What do lawyers have to know in order to represent their clients in the best possible way? Is justice always served in the courtroom? Why does it take such a long time for a case to be tried? Why is the law so complex? How do loopholes and other technicalities affect the legal system? Families can also discuss professional behavior in the workplace. What kind of relationships are appropriate with co-workers?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 4, 1997
- Cast : Camryn Manheim , Dylan McDermott , Steve Harris
- Networks : FX , Syndicated
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : March 14, 2020
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