The Top 10 Best Celebrity Lawyers

source:vanityfair.com

Celebrities often find themselves in legal troubles that require the expertise of top-notch lawyers. These legal professionals not only excel in their field but also become iconic figures in pop culture due to their high-profile cases and legal strategies. In this article, we'll delve deeper into the lives and careers of the top 10 best celebrity lawyers who have made a significant impact in the legal world.

1. Amal Clooney

Amal Clooney, previously known as Amal Alamuddin, is a British-Lebanese barrister specializing in international law and human rights. Born on February 3, 1978, in Beirut, Lebanon, Clooney's family fled the Lebanese Civil War when she was just two years old, settling in the United Kingdom.

Clooney studied at St. Hugh's College, Oxford, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Jurisprudence. She then attended New York University School of Law, where she completed a Master of Laws degree. Clooney was admitted to the New York Bar in 2002 and the Bar of England and Wales in 2010.

Throughout her career, Clooney has represented clients in cases before international courts, including the International Criminal Court and the European Court of Human Rights. She has also been involved in high-profile cases, such as representing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in his extradition case.

Clooney is married to actor George Clooney, and the couple has twins, Ella and Alexander. Despite her celebrity status as George Clooney's wife, Amal Clooney is renowned for her legal expertise and commitment to human rights.

2. Harvey Levin

Harvey Levin is an American television producer, legal analyst, and celebrity reporter. Born on September 2, 1950, in Los Angeles, California, Levin is best known as the founder of the celebrity news website TMZ and the host of the television show "TMZ on TV."

Levin graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He then attended the University of Chicago Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree.

Levin began his legal career as an attorney, practicing in Los Angeles. He later transitioned into media, working as a legal analyst for various television programs before founding TMZ in 2005.

TMZ quickly became known for its breaking news coverage of celebrity scandals and legal issues. Levin's legal background gave him a unique perspective on these stories, and his reporting style made him a prominent figure in the world of celebrity journalism.

3. Jim Garrison

Jim Garrison was an American attorney and New Orleans district attorney who is best known for his investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Born on November 20, 1921, in Iowa, Garrison served in the U.S. Army during World War II before attending law school.

Garrison graduated from Tulane University Law School in 1949 and began practicing law in New Orleans. He was elected district attorney for the city in 1962 and gained national attention for his investigation into Kennedy's assassination in 1963.

Garrison's investigation led to the arrest and trial of New Orleans businessman Clay Shaw, whom Garrison accused of being involved in a conspiracy to assassinate Kennedy. Shaw was acquitted in 1969, and Garrison's investigation was widely criticized for its handling and lack of evidence.

Despite the criticism, Garrison remained a controversial figure and continued to serve as district attorney until 1973. He later became an author and lecturer, and his life and career were the subject of the 1991 film "JFK," directed by Oliver Stone.

4. Vincent Bugliosi

Vincent Bugliosi was an American attorney and author best known for prosecuting Charles Manson and his followers for the Tate-LaBianca murders in 1969. Born on August 18, 1934, in Hibbing, Minnesota, Bugliosi grew up in California and attended UCLA School of Law.

Bugliosi joined the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office in 1964 and quickly gained a reputation as a skilled prosecutor. He was assigned to the Manson case in 1970 and successfully prosecuted Manson and several of his followers for the murders.

Bugliosi's prosecution of Manson became the basis for his bestselling book, "Helter Skelter," which was published in 1974. The book detailed the Manson family's crimes and trial and is considered one of the definitive accounts of the case.

Bugliosi left the district attorney's office in 1972 and went on to write several more books, including "Outrage: The Five Reasons Why O.J. Simpson Got Away with Murder" and "Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy."

5. Marcia Clark

Marcia Clark is an American attorney, author, and television personality best known for prosecuting O.J. Simpson for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman in 1995. Born on August 31, 1953, in Berkeley, California, Clark grew up in Southern California and attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.

Clark went on to attend Southwestern University School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree. She began her legal career as a criminal defense attorney before joining the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office in 1981.

Clark gained national attention as the lead prosecutor in the Simpson trial, which was widely publicized and became known as the "Trial of the Century." Despite a lengthy and highly publicized trial, Simpson was acquitted of the murders in 1995.

After the trial, Clark left the district attorney's office and became a television legal analyst and author. She has written several crime novels and non-fiction books, including "Without a Doubt," which detailed her experience as a prosecutor in the Simpson trial.

6. Gloria Allred

Gloria Allred is an American attorney known for her work in civil rights and her representation of high-profile clients. Born on July 3, 1941, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Allred attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. She went on to attend Loyola Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree.

Allred began her legal career as a teacher before becoming an attorney. She gained national attention in the 1970s for her work in women's rights and civil rights cases, including representing women who had been discriminated against in the workplace.

Allred has represented numerous high-profile clients, including actress Hunter Tylo in her pregnancy discrimination case against the producers of the television show "Melrose Place" and Amber Frey, a key witness in the Scott Peterson murder trial.

Allred is known for her media savvy and her willingness to take on controversial cases. She has been involved in several high-profile cases, including the defense of Bill Cosby's accusers and the representation of women who accused former President Donald Trump of sexual misconduct.

7. F. Lee Bailey

F. Lee Bailey was an American attorney best known for his role in several high-profile criminal cases. Born on June 10, 1933, in Waltham, Massachusetts, Bailey attended Harvard University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. He went on to attend Boston University School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree.

Bailey gained national attention in the 1960s and 1970s for his role in several high-profile cases, including representing Dr. Sam Sheppard in his successful appeal of his murder conviction and representing Captain Ernest Medina in the My Lai Massacre trial.

Bailey's most famous case was his defense of heiress Patty Hearst, who was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army in 1974. Bailey successfully argued that Hearst had been brainwashed by her captors and was not responsible for her actions during the kidnapping.

Bailey's legal career was not without controversy. He was disbarred in 2001 for misconduct in the handling of a client's funds, and he faced criticism for his defense of O.J. Simpson in the 1995 murder trial of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.

8. Clarence Darrow

Clarence Darrow was an American lawyer and civil libertarian who is best known for his defense of Leopold and Loeb in their 1924 trial for the murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks. Born on April 18, 1857, in Kinsman, Ohio, Darrow attended the University of Michigan Law School but did not graduate.

Darrow began his legal career in Ohio before moving to Chicago, where he gained national attention for his defense of labor activists and anarchists. He gained further fame for his defense of John T. Scopes in the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial, where he argued against the state of Tennessee's anti-evolution law.

Darrow was known for his eloquence and his belief in the rights of individuals against the power of the state. He was a fierce opponent of the death penalty and often defended individuals accused of violent crimes.

Darrow's legacy is one of a defender of civil liberties and a champion of the underdog. He died on March 13, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 80.

9. Alan Dershowitz

Alan Dershowitz is an American attorney, author, and legal analyst best known for his work as a defense attorney in several high-profile cases. Born on September 1, 1938, in Brooklyn, New York, Dershowitz attended Brooklyn College, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. He went on to attend Yale Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree.

Dershowitz gained national attention in the 1970s for his defense of clients such as Patty Hearst, Claus von Bülow, and O.J. Simpson. He has also been involved in several high-profile civil liberties cases, including representing clients in First Amendment cases and cases involving privacy rights.

Dershowitz is also a prolific author and commentator, having written numerous books on legal and political topics. He has been a frequent guest on television news programs and has written opinion pieces for several major newspapers.

10. Johnnie Cochran

Johnnie Cochran was an American attorney best known for his role in the defense of O.J. Simpson in his 1995 murder trial. Born on October 2, 1937, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Cochran attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. He went on to attend Loyola Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree.

Cochran gained national attention for his defense of Simpson, which became known for its use of the phrase "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit." Despite Simpson's acquittal, Cochran's tactics were criticized by some legal experts, who argued that he had used race to manipulate the jury.

Cochran was known for his charismatic personality and his ability to connect with jurors. He continued to practice law after the Simpson trial, representing clients in several high-profile cases.

In conclusion, these top 10 celebrity lawyers have not only made significant contributions to the legal profession but have also become iconic figures in pop culture. Their high-profile cases and legal strategies have left a lasting impact on the legal world, making them the best in their field.