"After all, I'm not licensed to practice law."
Legal V - Ex-lawyer Shoko Takanashi (リーガルV～元弁護士・小鳥遊翔子～) is a 2018 Japanese Law Procedural aired on TV Asahi and Netflix, starring Ryoko Yonekura. The titular character is a disbarred lawyer who starts a law firm with a handful of promising but inexperienced attorneys and several Reformed Criminals as paralegals.
After all, I'm licensed to trope:
- Affectionate Nickname:
- Aoshima is "Pocchi" ("Fido" in the Netflix sub), a common dog's name, because she's Shoko's beloved "lap dog".
- Baba is "Stalker".
- Almighty Janitor: As someone without an attorney badge, Shoko's official job title is supervisor, but she's the mastermind behind all the firm's victories.
- Bad Boss: Temma, a senior partner at Felix&Temma law firm, drenches her secretary with red wine whenever she makes a mistake, especially when it concerns Shoko. She returns the favor when he is finally arrested for conspiracy to commit murder, in front of the press and police.
- Batman Gambit: Shoko's strategies are generally based on this, including in the final where she correctly predicts that Kaizaki, her former colleague and lover, will expose his boss Temma's involvement in a murder since it would both open a senior partner spot for himself and let him act on the little idealism he has left.
- Broken Record: During Episode 4's wedding marriage scam case, Professor Kyogoku kept repeating his statement as they haven't had time to do their investigation to win the case.
- But Now I Must Go: After Temma is arrested and Moriya's sentence is presumably reconsidered, she entrusts the law firm to Aoshima and the others and goes on another train trip.
- Catchphrase:
- At least Once per Episode, Shoko reminds everyone that she's not licensed to practice law.
- Kyogoku's catchphrase when he demonstrates an ability: "I may not look like it, but I have a certification in (Insert relevant skill certification)
- Kyogoku also has 'Justice!' as his catchphrase.
- The Chikan: Their first client is a man accused of being one.
- Connected All Along: As revealed in the last episode, Shoko was the court appointed lawyer for Rie and Baba when they went to trial
- Cool Teacher: Kyogoku's former students come to cheer for him on his first courtroom trial.
- Crusading Lawyer: All the Kyogoku Law Firm lawyers are the idealistic type.
- Decoy Leader: Shoko names Kyogoku managing attorney for his dignified appearance, but everybody knows who's really in charge.
- Exact Words: Tenma wish to stand with Shoko again in the court room. And got his wish when she sued him for causing her to be disbarred.
- Gaslighting: In episode 6, the matchmaking company 'Rose Bridal' runs on this to scam money from their customers.
- Gold Digger: Rena, the hostess in episode 4, got married to an elderly corporate chairman hours before his death, and everyone suspects her as one. She indeed married him for his inheritance, but intends to use it to revitalize her hometown's economy that was ruined by his company's actions years before rather than personal gain. It's later revealed that the chairman had recorded a will stating that his fortune goes to the town anyway, to atone for what his company did.
- Host Club: Akira is a host and works at one.
- In Vino Veritas: Akira often invites young women who might have information about a case to a complimentary session at his club and have their drunk revelations recorded.
- Internet Jerk: In episode 5, Muto's mother was Driven to Suicide after being cyberbullied due to her son's assault conviction. After the appeal is won, the Kyogoku Law Firm petitions to have the news site where the bullies gather release their identities and demands compensation from each and every one of them.
- Ironic Echo: 'The truth shall be revealed in court.' said Tenma. It gets used against him by Shoko and Kaizaki during the final episode.
- Only in It for the Money: Shoko, or rather, she claims to be. Conveniently, most of their clients stand to win large amounts of money in damages.
- Ragtag Bunch of Misfits
- Rail Enthusiast: Shoko is one and is a recognized expert certified by Japan's railway agency. That qualifies her to be an expert witness whose testimony acquits their first client, a wrongfully accused Train Molester.
- Reformed Criminal: All the paralegals have done time for non-violent crimes.
- Sharp-Dressed Man: They're lawyers, after all.
- Show Within a Show: "100 Crime Scenes", a popular Detective Drama and Shoko's favorite.
- Stalker without a Crush: Baba went to jail for being a Stalker with a Crush, and becomes an investigator for the law firm.
- Suddenly Always Knew That: Aside from being a former law college professor, Kyogoku seems to hold a certification for any given subject. Even his lawyer license is given to him by virtue of his teaching experience, and he never worked as one before the events of the series.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Shoko's passion for train boxed lunches (ekiben) comes with being a Rail Enthusiast.
- Unlimited Wardrobe: Shoko seems to never wear the same outfit twice.
