Who were the five most famous lawyers in the US?

As part of our series on the world’s most famous lawyers, here are five fantastic American attorneys who have gained widespread acclaim in the US (and note that ranking the top five American lawyers by fame is difficult because it depends on the time period, geographic location, and area of law they have specialized in but here are five of the most famous). And see also our list below of some of the most famous US lawyers by State too:

5. Clarence Darrow: A well-known name in criminal defence and an American attorney, Clarence Darrow. He became well-known for defending those accused of notorious crimes, such as the Scopes Monkey Trial, in which he defended the teaching of evolution in schools. Darrow became a hero in the legal community due to his outstanding courtroom performances and progressive stances on social problems.

4. Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, sometimes known as RBG, was a United States Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States and a lawyer. Ginsburg was renowned for her support of women’s rights and gender equality. She became a well-known character in American jurisprudence as a result of her professional career and noteworthy decisions.

3. Abraham Lincoln was a famous attorney before serving as the 16th President of the United States. His legal career was centred on civil rights, and he is renowned for having fought for the abolition of slavery. Lincoln became a legendary figure because of his legal knowledge and leadership during a crucial time in American history.

2. Johnnie Cochran: Johnnie Cochran was a well-known American attorney and civil rights defender. As the principal defence lawyer in the O.J. Simpson murder trial, he attracted widespread notoriety. Cochran was one of the most well-known and important lawyers of his day thanks to his dynamic courtroom demeanour and strategic abilities.

1. Thurgood Marshall: The first African American to serve as a justice on the US Supreme Court was Thurgood Marshall, an American lawyer and civil rights leader. A number of important civil rights cases, including Brown v. Board of Education, which put a stop to racial segregation in public schools, were successfully fought by Marshall before he was appointed to the Supreme Court.

Although these five lawyers have received widespread acclaim and have made significant contributions to American law, it’s important to recognise that there are many other well-known and influential American lawyers who have had a lasting impact on the legal industry across a variety of time periods and geographical areas – in that respect see our further guides:-

Have feedback for us on any of our guides or think there’s a more famous lawyer you think we should have included? Please let us know? Our aim is to promote and showcase the most fantastic lawyers around the world.

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