Intro
When it comes to legal dramas, Saul Goodman and Harvey Specter have captured the imagination of millions. Saul, played by Bob Odenkirk, is the morally ambiguous lawyer with a colorful personality who defends criminals in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Harvey Specter, portrayed by Gabriel Macht in Suits, is the confident, sharp-witted, and impeccably dressed corporate lawyer at Pearson Specter, one of New York’s top law firms.
Both lawyers operate in highly competitive and dangerous fields of law but in vastly different ways. Where Saul is a “criminal lawyer” in every sense of the word, Harvey is a “closer” with an untarnished reputation in corporate circles. So, how do they stack up against each other? Let’s start by exploring their backgrounds.
1. Background and Personality
- Saul Goodman (Jimmy McGill)
- Background: Saul Goodman, originally Jimmy McGill, started out as a struggling public defender with a dubious moral compass. His background is more of a scrappy, street-smart hustler. As he transforms into Saul Goodman, he adopts the persona of a flashy, morally flexible lawyer who thrives in the criminal underworld.
- Personality: Saul is witty, manipulative, and resourceful. His charm and ability to think on his feet make him a master at finding loopholes and bending the law to suit his clients’ needs. His personality leans towards survivalism, often willing to sacrifice his ethical standing for success.
- Moral Code: Saul’s moral compass is highly flexible. He’s willing to cut corners and engage in morally questionable activities, from laundering money to defending drug lords. Saul justifies his actions as doing whatever it takes to survive and thrive in the world of criminals.
- Harvey Specter
- Background: Harvey Specter is a top corporate lawyer at Pearson Hardman (later Pearson Specter) and one of the most successful closers in New York. His background is more polished—educated, confident, and charismatic, Harvey worked his way up from the mailroom to becoming a senior partner.
- Personality: Harvey is confident, sharp, and relentless. He values loyalty, results, and playing by the rules (most of the time). Harvey’s style is more suave and controlled than Saul’s. His brash confidence and love for winning make him a force in the courtroom and in negotiation rooms.
- Moral Code: Harvey operates within the law, but he’s not above using morally grey strategies to win. However, unlike Saul, he often draws a line and works within the framework of corporate law. His loyalty to his clients and friends, like Mike Ross, often dictates his decision-making.
2. Legal Skills and Strategies
- Saul Goodman’s Legal Approach:
- Strengths: Saul is a master manipulator and excels in finding unorthodox solutions to legal problems. He specializes in defending criminals and often bends (or outright breaks) the law to ensure his clients’ freedom. Saul’s strategies often involve exploiting loopholes, playing to people’s weaknesses, and twisting the system to his advantage.
- Style: His approach is chaotic and unpredictable. Saul is not the kind of lawyer who wins cases with elegance; he wins with cunning, guile, and a little bit of luck. He’s more a street lawyer than a polished courtroom litigator.
- Weaknesses: His lack of respect for the law can backfire. He often puts himself and his clients in danger with his risky methods. His overreliance on manipulation and scheming can lead to unintended consequences.
- Harvey Specter’s Legal Approach:
- Strengths: Harvey is known for his sharp negotiation skills, quick thinking, and ability to close deals in high-stakes corporate law. He’s a master litigator who knows how to play by the rules while still pushing the boundaries. Harvey’s strategies involve leverage, negotiation, and an ironclad understanding of corporate law.
- Style: Harvey is polished, charismatic, and professional. He wins with confidence, wit, and a mastery of the law. He rarely loses his composure, and his ability to “out-close” opponents is legendary.
- Weaknesses: Harvey’s overconfidence can sometimes be his downfall. He occasionally underestimates his opponents and lets his ego get in the way. Additionally, his loyalty to his friends, especially Mike Ross, has put his career and reputation in jeopardy at times.
3. Relationships and Loyalties
- Saul Goodman:
- Saul is more of a lone wolf. He has few true friends and is willing to betray those close to him if it serves his interests. His loyalty is to himself above all, though he does form a complicated bond with his former partner Kim Wexler. His relationship with criminals like Walter White and Mike Ehrmantraut highlights his tendency to get deeply involved with dangerous people.
- Harvey Specter:
- Harvey’s loyalty is one of his defining traits. His relationship with Mike Ross, a younger lawyer he mentors, is central to his character. Harvey is fiercely protective of those close to him, including Donna (his secretary/confidante) and Jessica Pearson (his mentor). He operates as part of a team, and his relationships are crucial to his success.
4. Morality and Ethics
- Saul Goodman:
- Saul’s moral compass is highly flexible. He’s willing to work with criminals and participate in illegal activities, all while justifying his actions as necessary for survival. His view of law is that it’s a tool to be manipulated rather than followed.
- Harvey Specter:
- Harvey operates within a more rigid moral code, at least compared to Saul. He stays within the boundaries of corporate law, though he does push ethical limits at times. He rarely crosses the line into outright illegal activities. His desire to win is strong, but he’s guided by loyalty and a belief in the importance of justice, even if he bends the rules.
5. Successes and Failures
- Saul Goodman:
- Successes: Saul is highly successful in his niche of criminal defense. He’s built a lucrative business defending dangerous clients, and his legal strategies are often effective despite their dubious ethics.
- Failures: His association with criminals like Walter White leads to personal and professional ruin. Saul’s willingness to break the law results in his downfall, and he ultimately has to go on the run.
- Harvey Specter:
- Successes: Harvey’s career is marked by high-profile wins in corporate law. He’s one of New York’s top lawyers and earns the respect of peers and clients alike. He’s also adept at protecting those close to him.
- Failures: Harvey’s decision to protect Mike Ross when it’s revealed that Mike never attended law school puts his entire career at risk. His loyalty to Mike leads to several setbacks, including near disbarment and strained relationships.
Conclusion: Who’s the Better Lawyer?
Choosing between Saul Goodman and Harvey Specter depends on the kind of law you need. If you’re in deep trouble with the law and need someone who can bend the system to get you out, Saul Goodman is your guy. He’s ruthless, cunning, and willing to do whatever it takes to win—even if it’s ethically questionable.
On the other hand, if you’re dealing with high-stakes corporate legal battles or need a closer who can out-negotiate and win within the framework of the law, Harvey Specter is unmatched. His professionalism, charisma, and legal acumen make him one of the most formidable lawyers in his field.
Ultimately, Saul Goodman is the lawyer for survival in a morally grey world, while Harvey Specter is the lawyer for winning within the system. Both are exceptional, but their methods and moral boundaries are vastly different.
Saul Goodman vs. The Lincoln Lawyer: A Comparative Analysis
Both Saul Goodman from Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul and Mickey Haller from The Lincoln Lawyer series are two of the most iconic fictional lawyers in pop culture, each with unique methods and approaches to the law. Despite both being defense attorneys, their characters, philosophies, and styles differ significantly, making for an intriguing comparison. Here’s an analysis of how these two lawyers stack up against each other:
1. Background and Origin
- Saul Goodman (Jimmy McGill)
- Series: Breaking Bad / Better Call Saul
- Actor: Bob Odenkirk
- Saul Goodman, born Jimmy McGill, is a con artist turned lawyer. He starts his career under his real name, fighting for small-time clients, before adopting the persona “Saul Goodman” when he delves into more morally ambiguous, criminal defense work. He rises to prominence as the go-to lawyer for criminals, and his tagline, “Better Call Saul,” epitomizes his role as a morally flexible, “get out of jail” card for Albuquerque’s underworld.
- Mickey Haller
- Series: The Lincoln Lawyer (books by Michael Connelly, adapted into film and TV)
- Actor: Matthew McConaughey (film) / Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (Netflix series)
- Mickey Haller, also known as “The Lincoln Lawyer,” operates primarily from the backseat of his Lincoln Town Car, which sets him apart as a lawyer on the move. His father was a renowned lawyer, and Mickey inherits a mix of ambition, charisma, and legal prowess. He’s more of a legal purist than Saul, yet not above manipulating the system when necessary.
2. Legal Approach and Ethos
- Saul Goodman:
- Ethics: Flexible to nonexistent. Saul is willing to bend, stretch, or outright break the law to serve his clients or himself. He operates with a “win at all costs” mentality and is not above bribery, intimidation, or witness tampering. His moral compass is heavily skewed, and he prides himself on exploiting loopholes in the legal system.
- Clients: His clientele mainly consists of criminals, including drug dealers, hitmen, and con artists. He actively seeks out cases that most lawyers would avoid because they require creative, sometimes shady, legal maneuvers.
- Style: Fast-talking, charming, and often comedic. Saul is a master of persuasion, often using his wit and street smarts to outmaneuver opponents in and out of the courtroom. His lawyering leans heavily into the spectacle of showmanship.
- Mickey Haller:
- Ethics: More traditionally ethical, but with some moral gray areas. While Mickey believes in the integrity of the justice system and fights for the accused’s right to a fair trial, he’s not afraid to pull a few tricks to ensure a favorable outcome for his clients. However, he draws the line at outright corruption or breaking the law.
- Clients: Haller defends a range of clients, from high-profile criminals to everyday people wrongfully accused. He’s less niche than Saul in his clientele but focuses on securing justice, whether for the guilty or innocent.
- Style: Haller is smooth, charismatic, and highly strategic. He’s known for his meticulous preparation and a deep understanding of the law, often using legal technicalities and superior strategy to win cases. He’s less flashy than Saul but more rooted in legal acumen.
3. Morality and Personal Life
- Saul Goodman:
- Morality: Morally ambiguous, Saul’s transformation from Jimmy McGill to Saul Goodman showcases a gradual descent into the underworld, prioritizing survival and financial gain over legal ethics. His willingness to work with dangerous criminals and his deceptive practices show a lawyer who has little regard for the consequences of his actions on society or his clients.
- Personal Struggles: Saul is deeply shaped by his strained relationship with his brother Chuck, who was a brilliant but judgmental lawyer. Jimmy’s shift to Saul is a defense mechanism—his way of proving himself, albeit through unscrupulous methods.
- Mickey Haller:
- Morality: While Haller is not a saint, he is grounded by a personal belief in the justice system. His moral compass is stronger than Saul’s, and he occasionally reflects on the ethical implications of his actions. He wants to believe in the law’s ability to do good, even if the system is flawed.
- Personal Struggles: Mickey deals with personal demons like substance abuse, strained relationships, and balancing his desire to help people with the cynicism that can come from defending guilty clients. He also feels the weight of living up to his father’s reputation, which influences many of his decisions.
4. Impact and Pop Culture Presence
- Saul Goodman:
- Saul became a fan-favorite character due to his colorful personality and comedic relief in the otherwise dark world of Breaking Bad. His spinoff series Better Call Saul allowed for a deeper exploration of his character, making him one of television’s most complex antiheroes. His influence on pop culture is undeniable, with his “Better Call Saul” catchphrase and outrageous commercials symbolizing his larger-than-life persona.
- Mickey Haller:
- Mickey Haller, through The Lincoln Lawyer books and adaptations, has carved out a niche as a more serious, gritty representation of a defense attorney. The character resonates with audiences who appreciate a lawyer trying to balance his personal struggles with his professional obligations. While perhaps less flashy than Saul, Haller’s moral ambiguity and resilience have given him a strong place in legal drama fiction.
5. Strengths and Weaknesses
- Saul Goodman:
- Strengths: Creativity, quick thinking, ability to manipulate and charm people, street smarts, and a near-encyclopedic knowledge of legal loopholes.
- Weaknesses: His willingness to bend the law, which often puts him and his clients in dangerous situations. His lack of a moral compass can backfire, leading to personal and professional downfall.
- Mickey Haller:
- Strengths: Legal expertise, meticulous case preparation, charisma, and a more grounded ethical approach to the law.
- Weaknesses: Tends to get personally involved with his clients, which can compromise his objectivity. His personal struggles sometimes cloud his judgment, and his faith in the system can be exploited.
6. Who Would You Hire?
- If you’re in a moral gray area or need a lawyer willing to push (or break) the law to win: Saul Goodman is your man. He’ll find loopholes, exploit weaknesses, and use every trick in the book to ensure you get off, no matter the crime.
- If you need a lawyer who operates within the bounds of the law but still knows how to win tough cases: Mickey Haller offers a more ethical approach without sacrificing the sharp edge needed to navigate complex legal situations.
Conclusion
Both Saul Goodman and Mickey Haller are exceptional fictional lawyers, but their styles, ethics, and approaches to the law couldn’t be more different. Saul is the epitome of the “shady lawyer” trope, bending the law to his will for profit, while Mickey represents the more nuanced figure of a lawyer navigating personal and professional challenges within the system. Choosing between the two would largely depend on whether you value legal ethics or just winning at any cost.
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