Better than The Split: 7 “can’t-miss” legal dramas coming to ITV, the BBC, Netflix and more

If, like us, The Split is up there with your favourite ever TV dramas, you might be surprised by what we’re about to tell you next. Yes, The Split is utterly brilliant viewing, but there’s also a slew of other legal dramas heading to our screens imminently - and they might just top it. Yes, really.

From the BBC's gritty new Glasgow-set drama Counsels, to Adolescence writer Jack Thorne's phone-hacking drama, The Hack, there are plenty of great dramas coming our way that are begging to be binged. So, stop what you’re doing and check out our pick of the 7 can’t miss legal dramas coming soon to a screen near you.

All’s Fair

Quite possibly one of this year’s most highly-anticipated series, Ryan Murphy’s latest drama stars none other than Kim Kardashian as a lawyer running her own female-led firm. Quite fitting really, when you consider Kim recently completed a legal apprenticeship in real life. Starring alongside the likes of Naomi Watts, Niecey Nash, Teyana Taylor, Sarah Paulson and Glenn Close, the team, who have left male-dominated firm to open their own powerhouse practice, navigate high-stakes breakups, scandalous secrets, and shifting allegiances—both in the courtroom and at home. We can’t wait! Coming to Disney+ this autumn.

Pierre

Channel 4’s upcoming six-part drama will introduce us to Pierre (played by Sherwood’s David Harewood), a charming West London duty solicitor who’s barely keeping his head above water financially, while also dealing with a fractious personal life. Despite his setbacks, he’s a bright, passionate lawyer – and when he begins looking into the mysterious death of a young client, he finds himself uncovering a chilling web of institutional corruption. It’s exactly the sort of series you’ll be guilting of watching in one go. Coming to Channel 4 soon.

The Hack

The next eagerly anticipated drama from Adolescence writer Jack Thorne, The Hack stars Broadchurch’s David Tennant and is based on journalist Nick Davies's investigation into phone-hacking at the News of the World. Set between 2002 and 2012, the drama interweaves two real-life stories, the work of Davies (played by Tennant), and running parallel, the story of the investigation into the unsolved murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan, led by former Met Police Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Cook (Robert Carlyle). Another must-watch that’s sure to get everyone talking. Coming to ITV soon.

I Fought the Law

A tough but undoubtedly brilliant watch, queen of drama Sheridan Smith is stepping into the shoes of real-life grieving mother Ann Ming, who campaigned to change the Double Jeopardy Law and ensure that her daughter’s murderer was convicted. Covering the brutal circumstances of her daughter's murder and the subsequent 15-year battle that followed, it's the sort of drama that will stay with you long after you've watched it. A word warning before you tune in: have some tissue handy. Coming to ITV soon.

The Lincoln Lawyer

Now in its fourth series, The Lincoln Lawyer introduces us to hotshot Los Angeles lawyer Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) who’s been sidelined following an accident and a subsequent painkiller addiction, and is determined to restart his career. That, he certainly does. Series 3, however, saw Mickey arrested for the supposed murder of Sam Scales, leaving the drama on a major cliffhanger. So, what’s going to happen to Mickey? And did he do it? We’ll be tuning in to find out. Series 4 is coming to Netflix soon. Series 1-3 is also available to stream on Netflix.

The Split Up

You read that right, Nicola Walker’s hit legal drama is officially making its way back to our screens… well, kind of. The Split Up is the brand-new spin-off, which is set in the same universe as Abi Morgan's The Split, but written by Ursula Rani Sarma (Abi will serve as executive producer). The new series will introduce us to a different family of legal experts, the Kishans, whose legacy is on the line when a family secret from the past is unearthed. That’s not to say the Defoe family won’t make an appearance, though, as Abi has shared that the return of the Defoe's something the team have talked about. Here's hoping! Coming to BBC One soon.

Counsels

This gritty new legal drama might just leave the team behind The Split shaking in their boots. The new drama puts the spotlight on five young lawyers who are scattered across the profession – and, having previously trained together, they now find themselves locking horns in the courts of Glasgow. With their careers on the line, let’s just say things are likely to get a little nasty. Based on the real-life experiences of lawyers in Glasgow, we’ve got very high hopes indeed for this one. Coming to BBC One soon.