But do these future lawyers really think "L.A. Law" accurately depicts the legal profession?

"No way in hell," says first-year student Bret S. Derman. "It's always the glamour--never the boring stuff, which is most of law."

"It's too much of a party," agrees Sara R. Adler, a second-year student.

Public Service

Statistics show that a significant number of Harvard Law graduates who do enter private law directly become disenchanted with the corporate world and leave it for public-service law after five years.

These mid-career lawyers often find that although corporate firms do provide indigent clients with legal aid, many firms' policies make it difficult for attorneys to perform even these volunteer services.

MacKenzie Brackman doesn't have that problem, though. Its attorneys do take on their share of pro bono work. But other aspects of the show sometimes draw criticism from the literal-minded fans in Harkness Commons. "It's the behavior you always think of--Perry Mason pacing back and forth--but you would never actually see that," one third-year student says of the "L.A. Law"yers' courtroom demeanor. "You want to direct attention to the witness and not yourself."

"It's a real trip," agrees Bret S. Derman, a first-year student.

Legal Comaraderie

The show's realism aside, stressed-out students welcome the chance to socialize with their fellows. Together they hiss at judges' decisions, shout criticisms in unison--"They can't do that" is a popular cry--and sometimes, during commercial breaks, even discuss legal issues raised by the show.

"It engenders community spirit," Adler explains. "Whenever you hear law terms, you feel this camaraderie."

"It's interesting to watch it with a couple hundred would-be lawyers because they pick out every flaw," says Davis.

One group of students even say they use "L.A. Law" as a study aid. "It's a good way to review the law," says second-year student Walter F. Fasse. "I think the show is becoming more technically correct."

But diehards already give the show the benefit of the doubt. "You try to look the other way when they do something blatantly wrong," Davis says.

In the opinion of many fans, the only truly inexcusable lapse so far this season was the fact that it didn't begin until November 2. "I was bummed out when they kept postponing," Fasse admits. He estimates that last year he trekked to the Commons for at least one-third of the shows.