Marvel Comics heroes and villains enjoy lives beyond their costumed heroics and schemes. Surprisingly, many characters pursued law for their day jobs. These characters both manipulate and protect the law depending on their position in the Marvel universe.She-Hulk: Attorney at Law has fans jumping to learn more about Marvel's lawyers.
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From some of the greatestAvengers like She-Hulk or Daredevil to children of well-known supervillains like the Beetle, Marvel's lawyers impact stories, representing fellow heroes and villains during comics likeCivil War IIand TV series likeDaredevil. The most powerful lawyers aren't always the strongest. A powerful lawyer is simply someone who is good at their job.
Updated on September 11, 2022 by Cole Kennedy: With the release of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, fans can learn more about the strongest, smartest lawyers in the Marvel universe. Even popular Marvel heroes and villains practice law outside of their super costumes.
10 Jerry McLeod
Some lawyers in the Marvel multiverse only serve for brief periods of time in the comics. One example of this is Jerry McLeod, a small-time lawyer who was charged with defending none other than Peter Quill, a.k.a. Star-Lord, after the Guardian of the Galaxy was arrested for collateral damage caused at a bar.
Facing prosecutor Matt Murdock at the trial, Jerry proved to be an imperfect lawyer, trying to get a newspaper signed by Quill as a memento during the trial and failing to get Quill’s elemental gun thrown out as evidence.
9 Jeryn Hogarth
This first lawyer will is both a mystery and a recognizable figure to many MCU fans. Jeryn Hogarth is a family friend and ally to Danny Rand’s family and went on to become one of the lawyers for Heroes for Hire in Marvel Comics.
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He also opposed Iron Man’s Superhuman Registration Act duringCivil War, and stopped Iron Man from arresting Iron Fist, stating he was already registered as a weapon in the U.S. However, Jeryn became Jeri Hogarth in the MCU, played by Carrie-Anne Moss, featured in several of the Netflix/Marvel shows likeJessica Jones andThe Defenders.
8 Janice Lincoln
AKA The Beetle
Oftentimes, Marvel Comics likes to surprise its readers with twists and reveals. Tombstone, a longtime foe of Spider-Man and rival toDaily Bugle's Robbie Robertson, has a daughter named Janice Lincoln.
Janice became the all-new Beetle to capture the thrill of her father’s lifestyle. She has faced the likes of Bucky Barnes, Black Widow, Iron Man, and many more. It turns out she is also an attorney, something few fans would have ever known. Her law practice rarely comes up in conversation. Instead, she spends most of her time aiding her fellow"Sinister Six" members inSuperior Foes of Spider-Man.
7 Anne Weying
AKA She-Venom
Anne Weying first appeared inAmazing Spider-Man #375 by David Michelinie, Mark Bagley, Bob Sharen, and Randy Emberlin. Anne was Eddie Brock's ex-wife and practiced law. AfterVenom became an anti-hero called Lethal Protector, Marvel fleshed out his backstory, introducing characters like Anne.
Anne was a pretty successful lawyer, but she's more notable for appearing as She-Venom inVenom: Sinner Takes All#3 by Larry Huma, Greg Luzniak, Jimmy Palmiotti, Ken Branch, and Tom Smith. She-Venom became just as violent as the original Venom and found herself behind bars soon after.
6 Franklin Nelson
Probably one of the most prolific non-powered lawyers in the Marvel universe is Matt Murdock’s best friend and ally, Franklin “Foggy” Nelson. After graduating from Columbia with his best friend, he and Matt began their own private law firm called Nelson and Murdock.
Eventually, Foggy found out about Matt’s alter ego,Daredevil, and the two had a strained relationship through the revelation. Their partnership strengthened over the years.Daredevil saved Foggy's life on many occasions while Foggy helped Matt uncover dirt on Wilson Fisk, New York's mayor at the time.
5 Everett Ross
Not every lawyer in the Marvel multiverse uses their law degree to become a full-time lawyer. One character who has a law degree from Oxford University and maintains a completely different occupation is Everett Ross. Working as a member of the U.S. State Department, Ross worked to escort foreign diplomats on American soil.
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While he worked with many leaders over the years, Ross is best known for his work with Black Panther and Wakanda, having gone on many adventures with the hero and his nation over the years. Martin Freeman played Ross inCaptain America: Civil War and will reappear inSecret Invasion.
4 James Madrox
AKA Multiple Man
One of the more complex characters to hold a law degree is the mutant character Jamie Madrox, a.k.a. Multiple Man. The mutant is known for his ability to multiply himself into many copies, each able to take on their own lives and personas.
What makes this ability interesting is when Jamie reached a critical moment in his life trying to determine what he wanted to do. He created copies of himself to live various lives, so he could absorb them back into himself, gaining their knowledge and experiences. One copy was a former attorney.
3 Matthew Hawk
AKA Two-Gun Kid
Some lawyers date back to the days of the Old West in the Marvel universe. One such lawyer is none other than Matt Hawk, the Two-Gun Kid. A former Boston lawyer who arrived in Tombstone, Texas after the American Civil War, Matt joined the Marvel universe thanks to the Avengers.
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During an adventure battling the time-traveling Kang the Conquerer, the Avengers arrived in Tombstone, and Matt allied himself with the team, befriending Hawkeye in the process. He eventually joined the team in the modern era. Two-Gun Kid attempted to practice law alongside She-Hulk before becoming a bounty hunter.
2 Jennifer Walters
AKA She-Hulk
The second famous lawyer in the Marvel universe is none other than Jennifer Walters. However, after thesuccess ofShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law, she may beat Daredevil for the top spot. Cousin of Bruce Banner and a powerful Avenger, Jennifer is a skilled attorney and one of the strongest heroes on the planet.
After her transformation into She-Hulk, she maintained her personality and intelligence in her new Hulk form, allowing her to continue practicing law. Specializing in many hero-based cases and even trying law across time itself, Jennifer balanced her work as a lawyer with her work as an Avenger.
1 Matthew Murdock
AKA Daredevil
Matt Murdock is perhaps the most prolific lawyer in Marvel Comics. Matt lost his sight at an early age in an accident involving chemicals which gave him a unique ability to perceive the world using a sonar-like sense.
Matt lost his father at a young age and dedicated his life to fighting crime. When he's not beating up criminals as Daredevil or working with the Defenders, Matt practices law at Nelson and Murdock as both a prosecutor and defender. Matt believes in the law, and the justice system played major roles in theDaredevil TV series and comic arcs likeBrian Michael Bendis'sDaredevil run.
