10 of the Most Famous American Lawyers

10 of the Most Famous American Lawyers

Abraham Lincoln – Wikipedia

From ancient Rome’s and Greece’s finest orators (such as Cicero and Demosthenes) to modern-day attorneys (such as Robert Kardashian and Alan Dershowitz), there have been many prominent lawyers you may have heard or read about.

In this article, we’ll look at ten well-known attorneys from both the past and the present United States. It’s also fascinating to see how many presidents have hailed from the legal profession.

1. Robert Shapiro

Robert Shapiro was born on September 2, 1942, in Plainfield, New Jersey. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Anderson School of Business in 1965 and a law degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles in 1968. He distinguished himself from his peers at Loyola by winning two American Jurisprudence honours as well as the school’s moot court competition. As a result, he was named Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. His time as a judge equipped him with future contacts and demonstrated that the courtroom was his true calling.

He was admitted to the California State Bar in the 1960s. His most important involvement was as a member of the defence team for OJ Simpson, who was charged with murder. He led a dream team of lawyers in successfully defending him against these accusations. Later, Robert Shapiro founded LegalZoom.

2. Thurgood Marshall

Thurgood Marshall by The Detroit Tribune from Wikimedia Commons

Thurgood Marshall was one of America’s most well-known lawyers. He was a lawyer as well as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, serving as the court’s 96th Justice.

He is also well-known for becoming the first African-American to serve on the Supreme Court. Thurgood Marshall was first admitted to the bar in Maryland. His most notable legal achievement was heading the Brown vs. Board of Education lawsuit, which resulted in the desegregation of public schools in the United States.

3. Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson by Library of Congress from Wikimedia Commons

The “schoolmaster in politics,” Thomas Woodrow Wilson, is most known for his high-minded idealism, which he demonstrated in his leadership on the faculty and as president of Princeton University, as well as in his national and international statesmanship during and after World War I. With the passing of time and developments in the United States, Wilson’s achievements have been re-evaluated.

He was not just the 28th President of the United States, but he was also a brilliant lawyer. He became a lawyer after being accepted to the Georgia State Bar. Prior to becoming President of the United States, he acquired a PhD.

4. Johnnie Cochran

Johnnie Cochran from Mark Winograd from Wikimedia Commons

Another well-known American lawyer who worked in OJ Simpson’s defence and acquittal is Johnnie Cochran. He also represented Jim Brown, Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur, Sean Combs, and Todd Bridges, in addition to OJ Simpson. During the 1960s, he was licensed to practice law in California. Before moving into the private sector, he worked as a criminal prosecutor in Los Angeles.

5. William Howard Taft

Many attorneys choose to enter politics, and William Howard Taft was no exception. He was the 27th President of the United States of America. He also served as the United States’ 10th Chief Justice.

He holds the rare distinction of being the only individual who has ever held both roles. Initially, Taft was accepted to the Ohio Bar. He worked for Hamilton County as an assistant prosecutor. He went on to become President of the United States shortly before the country joined World War One.

6. Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson by Edward Anthony from Wikimedia Commons

Andrew Jackson had a long and eventful career, which included a stint as a lawyer. Many people link the guy shown on the $20 note with his presidency of the United States. He was also admitted to the North Carolina bar in 1787, in addition to serving as the seventh President.

At the age of 21, he was one of the youngest prosecuting attorneys in the history of the United States. He is also one of the Democratic Party’s initial founders. His service as President of the United States, Senator, Military Governor, Soldier, and Attorney earned him a spot on the $20 note.

7. Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln is most remembered as the 16th president of the United States, who led the country through one of its darkest episodes in history, the Civil War. He was a highly successful lawyer in addition to being a politician.

In 1836, he was admitted to the Illinois bar and immediately began practising law. Abraham Lincoln was a multi-talented attorney who handled both criminal and civil cases. Before he entered politics, Lincoln and his partners had handled over 5,000 cases.

8. Robert Kardashian

Despite the fact that many people identify the Kardashians with the entertainment industry, their father is one of America’s most recognized lawyers. He graduated from the University of San Diego with a law degree and passed the bar exam shortly after. He was involved in the civil sphere in addition to acting as a part of the defence team in the OJ Simpson case. Despite the fact that he died in 2003, his legal achievements continue to astound many in the field.

9. Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon is undoubtedly one of America’s most divisive presidents, having been one of the few to be impeached. He was also an accomplished lawyer before becoming a politician. He graduated from Duke University Law School in 1937 and practised law in California. Despite being a highly accomplished lawyer, he is best known for being the only president to resign.

10. Barack Obama

President Barack Obama is photographed during a presidential portrait sitting for an official photo in the Oval Office, Dec. 6, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Barack Obama is an African-American politician and lawyer who served as the 44th President of the United States. He is the only President of the United States of African descent. In 1991, he received a Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law School. Following that, he went to Chicago and worked as a civil rights lawyer. This finally led to a successful political career.

These are only a few of the most well-known lawyers in American history. Although there is a close link between the legal and political fields, the legal area is large, and there are many distinct types of attorneys.

If you’re looking for a lawyer, it’s critical that you choose the correct one for your case.