My uncle and grandfather are lawyers... and both pretty straight-laced. So I guess my opinion is a bit biased. However, I just purchased the Ally McBeal series and am currently rewatching it... There were so many absurd things going on INTRA-OFFICE that you think there would have been more lawsuits against the firm, itself, than cases they took on!
Case in point:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jqa0vzdbe7M
Unisex bathrooms!
I'm not questioning the quality of the show! In fact, the complete series and Season 1 were just released for the first time in the US last week and I'd be lying if I said I didn't purchase the box-set.
I'm just saying that I don't think any of those characters would be taken seriously in a real courtroom! Come on: Ally was a little crazy, as is evidenced by her visions of dancing babies!