Editorial Review:

Description:
In a cutthroat legal world where truth and justice fight a constant battle, Jack Roper (John Hannah) is used to relying on his wits to win cases. But when he turns down a lucrative job offer from his mentor to strike out on his own, he not only risks their friendship but also his career.

Set in two rival barristers' chambers in the heart of Manchester, New Street Law follows Jack and his newly established firm as they pull out all the stops to prove their clients' innocence.

DVD Extra:
Outtakes and Bloopers

Amazon.com:
New Street Law, a crisp legal procedural series from the BBC, stars John Hannah (Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Mummy) as Jack Roper, a driven--perhaps even obsessive--defense lawyer with a small, struggling firm. The dense accents, particularly Hannah's Scots brogue, may take a brief getting used to, but the substance of the show will be familiar to fans of American lawyer series: A combination of compressed law cases, usually introduced and resolved within the hour, and the series-long arcs of the lawyers' messy personal lives. New Street Law starts on a fairly generic note, featuring a rivalry between defense lawyers and prosecutors, a standard motley crew within the firm (including a hotshot newbie, a slightly sleazy but charming guy, a staunch female lawyer who feels she has more to prove), and romantic tensions galore. But over the course of this eight-episode season the cast and writers of New Street Law find their stride, giving the characters more texture and increasingly complex relationships--and the prosecutors, including a senior lawyer played by Paul Freeman (Raiders of the Lost Ark), get just as much exploration as the defense team. After wrestling with cases of arson, shoplifting, mental instability, corporate malfeasance, and medical malpractice, the series culminates with a grisly child murder case that may lead Roper to compromise his ethics. Don't look for onsite investigations or courtroom histrionics--the show realistically keeps its cast in legal chambers and, though there are certainly dramatic moments, doesn't let the cross-examinations get absurdly flashy. Egos and juicy personal vendettas abound, but the show's greatest strength is a clear-eyed picture of the deals made in the halls and conference rooms. All in all, a solid if standard legal program, with the added appeal of giving American viewers a glimpse into the similarities and differences of the British legal system. --Bret Fetzer

No subtitles? No closed captions? Too bad. Once again the makers choose to ignore the 30 million Americans who are hearing impaired.

Average Rating:

Rating: - No subtitles? No closed captions? Too bad
No subtitles? No closed captions? Too bad. Once again the makers choose to ignore the 30 million Americans who are hearing impaired.

Rating: - Intriguing look at British Legal system
Intriguing look at the British legal system. It reminds us of the
old American TV drama series, The Practice. Interesting
characters portrayed by talented actors who are more realistic --
unlike so many of their Hollywood peers. Deals with current
criminal as well as ethical issues the legal profession face.
Refreshing change from what is available everyday on American
television.

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Rating: - New Street Law
New Street Law - This show in both its first and second season is well acted and suitably ambivalent in its attitude to the way in which the law is handled in "the city". Whilst not seemingly adopting full ethical standards at law (though not so absolute in its rejection thereof as in "Shark") the show is wholly entertaining save that it truly does not take hold until the end of the third episode of the first season. I would recommend this series as quite entertaining but, at first, not quite griping until after the third episode as aforesaid.

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Rating: - Love John Hannah
I'm always looking for good BBC series and this is one of them. I usually prefer crime mysteries but gave this a try and found it well worth it. I admit to being a little bias when it come to Hannah and if you like his style, you'll find it here. I bought both series and enjoyed them both.

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Rating: - New and Exciting
This should be turned into a TV show. I cant beleive that it was only a two season show. They should not leave a show ending like that if they know they are not going to follow it through. New and exciting all the same.

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