Crime Fiction Genres

Legal thrillers and courtroom dramas are genres in which the lawyer-heroes / heroines confront enemies outside, as well as inside, the courtroom. They often fight these legal battles for clients who are in danger of losing not only their cases but their lives. Sometimes the main characters are ordinary people who become legal experts after having been framed by the legal establishment.

The best courtroom dramas feature rookie lawyers hired by desperate victims of powerful people or companies, who single-handed outsmart seasoned teams of star lawyers or ruthless public prosecutor. John Grisham is the undisputed master of the genre, who worked long hours at a small Southaven, Mississippi law practice, before he started his career as a writer.