Notable Quotes From Lawyer Movies

To Kill a Mockingbird, lawyer Atticus Finch to his daughter Scout, “You never really understand a person . . . until you consider things from his point of view.” And Reverend Sykes to Scout as Atticus leaves the courtroom after losing the case, “Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father’s passing.”

My Cousin Vinny, defense lawyer Vinny’s opening statement at trial, in its entirety, “Uh. . . everything that guy just said is bull****. Thank you.”

A Civil Action, frustrated plaintiff’s lawyer Jan Schlichtmann, “The odds of a plaintiff’s lawyer winning in civil court are two to one against. Think about that for a second. Your odds of surviving a game of Russian roulette are better than winning a case at trial. Twelve times better.”

The Verdict, lawyer Frank Galvin’s closing argument in a medical malpractice trial, “If we are to have faith in justice, we need only to believe in ourselves. And act with justice. See, I believe there is justice in our hearts.”

Chicago, lawyer Billy Flynn sings about how to try a murder case that has become front page news, “Give ’em a show that’s so splendiferous, row after row will grow vociferous.”

The Paper Chase, Professor Kingsfield to One L student, “Mister Hart, here is a dime. Take it, call your mother, and tell her there is serious doubt about you ever becoming a lawyer.”

Erin Brockovich, title character taking umbrage at being mistaken for a lawyer, “I hate lawyers; I just work for them.”

A Man for All Seasons, Sir Thomas More, holding fast to the rule of law when asked, ““So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law?” responds, “Yes, I’d give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety’s sake!”

And finally, no list of lawyer movie quotes would be complete without A Few Good Men and witness Col. Jessup’s “You can’t handle the truth!”

Did we miss your favorite lawyer movie quote?  Send it to [email protected] and if we receive enough, we’ll follow a Hollywood tradition and do a sequel, Notable Quotes From Lawyer Movies 2.