The Good Wife and How to Get Away with Murder are arguably two of the biggest female led legal dramas on television this fall. Both Alicia Florrick and Dr. Annalise Keating are excellent criminal defense attorneys, but their styles vary drastically.
They are also both competent in their fields; however, Annalise Keating is considered a criminal defense expert. State’s Attorney candidate Alicia Florrick, on the other hand, has more varied experiences under her belt ranging from criminal defense to corporate espionage. Depending on the circumstances of your situation either lawyer would be adequate legal representation, but if given the choice between the two: who would you rather defend you? This is what I would consider.
Courtroom Style
Both Alicia Florrick and Annalise Keating have unique styles in the courtroom, while at the same time commanding a great deal of respect and authority. However, it’s their differences in style that makes their shows all the more entertaining. Alicia Florrick tends to be steady and overall less emotional in the courtroom. She fights tactically and strategically, rarely allowing her emotions to get the best of her. This is no surprise of characterization since she is pretty much the same way out of the courtroom as well.
Annalise Keating however, is much more invested; emotionally speaking. As much as she tries to withhold her emotions, you can still read her accurately before she even says a word. She is passionate and that drives her to win her cases, in addition to her inherent knowledge and inclination towards understanding how the criminal mind works. If you’re actually guilty, Annalise just might be your best shot.
Wins/Losses
The Good Wife has been on television for six seasons, in comparison to the one season that How to Get Away with Murder has been on air. Because of this fact, Alicia Florrick’s wins will no doubt trump those of Annalise Keating’s because she’s been around longer. But, if you wanted to get technical and tally wins according to fictional years of experience, then I do believe Annalise will then assume the victory. Whichever way you look at it, they’re both winners in the courtroom, which is why losses are the true determining factor here.
If my memory serves me correctly, well before Alicia started her own firm and she was an employee of the Lockhart/Gardner law firm, she rarely lost a case. To this day, the same is true. Annalise Keating, on the other hand, has yet to lose a case, but keep in mind there have only been 9 episodes of How to Get Away with Murder in comparison to the 122 episodes of The Good Wife. And, since we don’t have a true number of how many cases Annalise tried before becoming the professor/mentor at Middleton University, the victory would then have to go to Alicia for overall best average and longevity….that we know of.
Work/Life Balance
Alicia Florrick has a lot on her plate. First of all, she’s still legally married to Governor Florrick- although we all know that situation is out of convenience for the both of them- which comes with its own set of obligations. Although so far into season 6 she hasn’t been forced to attend many functions out of First Wife duty, the possibility is always there. Add to this the fact that she has two children, one teenager still in high school and one off in his first year in college. Then again we rarely see her interact with either one of them the current season, if at all. For Alicia, the only thing that really gets the bulk of her attention is her work. Ergo, she has no sense of work/life balance, which let’s face it, is probably a good quality if you’re looking for someone to help you fight the legal system.
The same can be said about Annalise Keating. However, there is one huge difference worth mentioning. Annalise’s personal life, which only includes a philandering husband, is entangled with her work. This could be a liability when considering her to be a fully competent criminal defense attorney, even if you are being charged with murder- her specialty- only because she tends to become a bit unhinged very easily as a result of her personal issues. She gets the job done, but is a bit of a loose cannon in her personal life, which can either contribute to her distraction or drive her passion with your case.