While Gov. Tom Wolf's "stay-at-home" shutdown order allows for some exceptions for certain lawyers and law firms to continue business operations, all area courthouses are effectively closed, except for certain emergency circumstances. As a result, thousands of Philadelphia area litigants will have to defer unleashing their brilliant opening statements and razor sharp cross examinations and settle for using leading questions to determine who left the dirty dishes in the sink, and turning bedtime routines into an address on the unintended effects of not brushing your teeth.

For those attorneys craving the courtroom setting, rather than turning the family room into the Peoples Court, the members of the Young Lawyer Editorial Board offer their suggestions as to some of the best examples of courtroom performances in movies and television:

"A Few Good Men"—Written by Aaron Sorkin and powered by a star-studded cast—Tom Cruise, Kevin Bacon, Demi Moore and Jack Nicholson, among others—this courtroom thriller centers around a young JAG lawyer with a big ego who finds himself defending two Marines accused of murdering a fellow soldier. Lessons abound for young trial lawyers and a cross-examination that will quickly lead you to the edge of your seat.

"Erin Brockovich"—boasting classic lines such as "they're called boobs, Ed," as Erin Brockovich, Julia Roberts teaches attorneys not to judge a book by its cover and that hard work and street smarts can be just as important as a J.D.

"Suits"—If you're looking for a realistic show about the legal profession—keep looking. Suits is a far cry from that, given that it's based on a young savant working as a Big Law associate without ever having gone to law school let alone pass the bar. Add to that the fact that each episode revolves around the main protagonists wading into an entirely new area of the law only to have mastered it by the end of the 40-minute episode. On the other hand, if you're looking for an entertaining "legal" show that's not too deep (read: allows you to contemporaneously scroll on your phone and still follow along), then give this a shot. An added plus is seeing what Meghan Markle actually did before she became royalty.

"My Cousin Vinny"—A comedy of trial and error. Favorite quote—"My biological clock is ticking like this, and the way this case is going, I ain't never getting married!"—seems fitting right now given everyone having to stay home. Marissa Tomei proves the value of expert witnesses, while Joe Pesci presents unique courtroom fashion choices.

"A Civil Action"—John Travolta in all his glory. Classic '90s. Speeding ticket changes his life. Class action law at its … not so finest. The book is better, but still worth watching.

"Philadelphia"—Denzel Washington says a few times—"explain it to me like I am" (a second-grader? Some young grade). Always a helpful reminder that clients can benefit from a straightforward explanation, without the legalese.

"Legally Blonde"—Reese Witherspoon lives out our law school fantasies of achieving a jaw dropping cross-examination, assuming you understand the science of perm and hair maintenance. If nothing else, you can teach your children the "bend and snap."

"Free Meek"—Free Meek on Amazon Prime is a five-episode documentary series that describes rapper Robert "Meek Mill" Williams' early life and 12-year involvement in the Philadelphia court system. Released in 2019, members of Philadelphia's criminal defense bar are featured prominently throughout to explain the miraculous course of Mill's case, including the grant of bail following his appellate win before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and how a scandal in the Philadelphia Police Department's Narcotics Field Unit led to his successfully obtaining a new trial. The documentary also speaks to Mill's problems with drug abuse and psychological issues related to his spending time in solitary confinement.

"Seinfeld" (any episode with Jackie Chiles)—With clients like Kramer, Jackie Chiles, Esq. proves that you can give the best legal advice, but the decision to listen rests with the client.

"The Innocence Files"—The Innocence Files on Netflix tells the story of eight men who were wrongfully convicted of crimes they did not commit. It also explains, through these cases, the three most prominent reasons for wrongful convictions: junk science, false eyewitness testimony and prosecutorial misconduct. Over nine episodes, the series explores the backgrounds of all parties affected by wrongful convictions, including law enforcement officials, defense attorneys and the families and friends of both the victims of these crimes and those falsely accused. Episode 8 features the story of Chester Hollman and the Innocence Project of Pennsylvania. After serving almost 29 years in prison, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office's Conviction Integrity Unit exonerated Hollman after his attorneys demonstrated that there was overwhelming evidence of his innocence.

"Dark Waters"—The newest legal thriller of the bunch based on the true story of Robert Bilott, played by Mark Ruffalo, and his decades-long crusade against chemical giant DuPont. Bilott exposed one of the worst cases of environmental contamination in modern history and a corporate coverup that put profits ahead of the health of hundreds of thousands of people. For the litigators, this film is a nice ride back to the pre-ESI days of the 1990s, as Ruffalo is tasked with reviewing hundreds of dusty boxes of decades-old papers as part of the discovery process—a scene that was a frequent occurrence in '90s legal dramas. These scenes will surely remind us to perhaps be grateful when logging onto Relativity while working from home for our latest document review. Bilott's "life's work" was not without great personal sacrifice, which is highlighted in the film, particularly the personal sacrifices made by him and his wife, and the multiple pay cuts Bilott took at his firm while working for years as a partner on an unprofitable contingency case. The star-studded cast also includes Tim Robbins and Bill Pullman.

"American Crime Story-The People vs. O.J. Simpson"—Whether you remember the white Ford Bronco car chase, The People vs. O.J. Simpson serves as a reminder of the importance of a well thought-out narrative and thoroughly vetting witnesses.

• Honorable Mentions—"To Kill a Mockingbird," "Inherit the Wind" and "Liar Liar" round out some notable films worth catching as well.

If after watching these movies, TV shows or documentaries, your families are tired of hearing that they "can't handle the truth," you can blame us.

The YL Editorial Board members: Leigh Ann Benson, Rachel Dichter, Scott Finger, Sarah Goodman, Kevin Harden, Jae Kim, Kandis Kovalsky, Bethany Nikitenko, Rob Stanko, chairman; Jeffrey Stanton and Shohin Vance