Law and The City A Story of the Real Courts

 'Seocho-dong' is essentially the definitive term for South Korea's legal world. It is densely packed with key judicial institutions, from the Supreme Court and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to the Seoul Central District Court and Seoul High Court. Surrounding them is a forest of countless law firms and attorneys' offices. It's only natural to assume that most people seen bustling about in suits here are legal professionals. From its first episode, the drama faithfully captures this realistic setting, even showing the familiar hill leading from Gyodae Station to the Seoul Central District Court. As such, 

The drama begins with an intriguing setup. While one might initially assume the main characters all work for the same prestigious law firm, they are in fact lawyers from different firms that are tenants in the same building. Under the guidance of charismatic senior partners representing each floor, there are the "associates"—rookie or junior lawyers. These five young lawyers, despite belonging to different firms, casually eat lunch together, grab coffee, and build camaraderie. 

The way they share concerns about their respective cases and offer sharp advice to one another provides a refreshing departure from the clichés of typical legal dramas. This appears to be a deliberate attempt to capture the 'human stories' that surely exist behind the scenes of the fiercely competitive legal world, viewed through a warm lens.

The most anticipated aspect of 

Many legal dramas insert scenes of lawyers delivering passionate, dramatic speeches in court for theatrical effect. However, real-life trials are more akin to a 'war of documents,' with battles waged primarily through written submissions. 

The combination of a fresh and solid cast, including Lee Jong-suk, Moon Ga-young, Ryu Hye-young, Kang Yoo-seok, and Im Sung-jae, further enhances the drama's appeal. It is particularly interesting to see Moon Ga-young, who has rarely played professional roles, transform into a lawyer, and Ryu Hye-young, who previously played a student in the drama 

Adding weight to the series is the formidable presence of Yeom Hye-ran, who appears as  the owner of the building.

Her brief yet powerful appearance at the end of the first episode has already left a strong impression, and audiences are keen to see what influence she will have on the young lawyers' development.

The drama's main plot will likely revolve around the growth of these five associate lawyers as they tackle their own cases. Their journey of sometimes cooperating and other times fiercely competing will be a central theme. The romance that blossoms in the process will also be a key point to watch. The first episode has already hinted at a past connection between Ahn Joo-hyung and Cha Eun-kyung (played by Moon Ga-young), amplifying curiosity about their relationship.

There's a formula for success in television that says, "Legal dramas never fail."