Legal High

Every once in awhile I stumble onto Kdrama which surprises and delights. Legal High packs a punch with its nearly seamless blend of comedy, characters, and consequences. The central plot follows newbie lawyer, Seo Jae-in. She is guided by her quest for justice, however, through a series of injustices, she gets entangled with a different type of lawyer, one who is fueled by his quest for fame and fortune: Go Tae-rim. The fast-talking and fastidious attorney has a 100% win rate in his trials. Impressive. However, his victories aren't exactly won through fair play. Jae-in struggles with respecting her new boss, as the two lawyers couldn't be more different in their ideals, methodology, and definition of justice.

If you are looking for romance or affection between our two leads, look somewhere else, because this series is centered on the affectation and self-aggrandization (and of course, the qualities that redeem him) of Tae-rim, his clients, his cases, and what he sees as his personal playground, the courtroom.

A murder mystery is what indentures Jae-in to this eccentric law firm. When one of Jae-in's childhood classmates is accused of murder, Jae-in is convinced of his innocence. The first problem? The country and prosecution have already determined him to be guilty. She entreats Tae-rim to represent her friend. The second problem? Tae-rim's services come with a hefty price tag, one that our newbie lawyer can't afford. In order to pay his exorbitant representation fee Jae-in becomes an underling for his law firm, where she learns from Tae-rim's unorthodox approach to success, even if she doesn't agree with the methods. Life lessons abound for our unlikely heroine, as she learns this through Tae-rim's that clients aren't criminals until judged by a judge, and it's their lawyer who should be on their side until the final thump of the gavel.

Something they do have in common is both Tae-rim and Jae-in are previous employees of B&G Law Firm. Propelling the story forward is when B&G hire ACE lawyer Kang Ki Suk, who just happens to be Tae-rim's previous apprentice. Eager to step out of Go Tae-rim's shadow, Ki Suk is determined to beat him in the courtroom and shatter his undefeated record. Ki Suk develops a unique relationship with Jae-in, as they have the unique commonality of working for perceived weirdo, Tae-rim. At every step of the way, Ki Suk can be found intertwined into the scenario, usually at eye-level, across the courtroom as the opposition.

Why should you watch?

For so many reasons, this should be at the top your watch list. There is the classic "whodunnit?" feel, as multiple cases are judged during the span of the series. Most notable, is the poisoning of a father and daughter. When the dad passes away, his younger girlfriend is the suspected murderess. This case is eventually closed, appealed, goes to the supreme court, and then back to the lower court. It successfully keeps you guessing, and second guessing. Who exactly is the murderer? Along the way, we get to see conflicting views from Tae-rim and Jae-in.

Another reason to watch is the pacing and storytelling which occurs, starting in episode one. The show lays the groundwork flawlessly, not even really showing Tae-rim until the second episode (he's only hinted about). We get to see a complete profile on our other central character, Jae-in, as she is nearly sexually assaulted by a co-worker. She overcomes her own fear and fights back (foreshadowing her growth), as well as wins the case against him. Unlike many dramas, this almost has a believable turn of events. What you see unfold throughout is Jae-in's transformation as a result of the events of the first episode. She doesn't become the typical and expected beacon of justice, but rather a strong and accomplished lawyer who remains consistently human.

Interesting and dynamic characters? Check. Skillfully sketched is our cooky, but capable, lawyer Tae-rim. He makes no excuses for his love of money or his love of winning. Just put a brief case of money in front of his face, and his expression changes to that of an addict. It's like putting a tray of freshly baked cupcakes in front of someone whose been on a diet for three months. His rush for high-paying cases is often tied to comedic and rapid fire dialogue (thank goodness for subtitles). He knows the power of intimidation and confusion. He uses this as a tactic to keep his audience on their toes as he uses factoids and Confucius-like proverbs. Many are left pondering at his drops of perceived wisdom, whereas others like Ki Suk knows this tactic well and uses it against him.