'Ally McBeal' divides lawyers

She works at a law firm with her ex-boyfriend, wears short skirts and thinks out loud through voice-overs.

Television character Ally McBeal's thoughts and office scenarios have both entertained and disturbed viewers since the show debuted this fall on Fox.

"Ally McBeal," a romantic comedy starring Golden Globe-winning actress Calista Flockhart as a young female lawyer, is one of this season's breakout television hits with critics and viewers alike. Earlier this year, the show received a Golden Globe for Best TV Series (comedy/musical).

The show centers on a woman of the '90s -- her social life and her career, mixing courtroom drama reminiscent of "L.A. Law" with the innuendoes and relationship fiascoes typically seen on shows such as "Friends."

And so far, viewers have been talking about the show almost as much as the lawyers on the show talk to each other in their law firm's co-ed bathroom.

Not everyone's comments have been positive, though.

According to an article in feminista!, an on-line feminist journal, in order to keep the show going, McBeal's life must be in constant crisis.

McBeal's crises often show through as she spends most of her time worrying about getting a man.

Feminist critics of the show are quick to point out the now-infamous line said by McBeal: "If women wanted to change society, they could do it. I plan to change it . . . I'd just like to get married first."

Others see Flockhart's character as an example of the typical working woman who, like many other women, deals with balancing a mix of professional and personal issues -- and she's funny, too.

According to Entertainment Weekly magazine, the show has "sharp, off-kilter dialogue, a talented ensemble cast and button-pushing storylines hot off the cultural zeitgeist."

But as for how well the show stacks up to real-life situations for female lawyers, there's hardly a consensus among viewers.

Amy Burd, a sole proprietor at 817 E. Bishop St. in Bellefonte, said she enjoys the show because it does a good job of portraying courtroom scenes.

"I laughed hysterically about it," she said, referring to a recent episode.

Although Burd has never worked in a law firm at a big city like the one McBeal works for, she said the firms where she has worked haven't been nearly as hip, funny or filled with young people.

Burd said lawyers are more likely to encounter a mix of different types of people of different ages in a law firm. However, locally, law firms tend to include mostly older men, she said.

Beth Farmer, assistant professor of law at the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, said although she has only watched the show a few times, she thinks it focuses more on dating than law. The law firm is just a trendy place to set the stories, she added.

"I don't think it's about lawyers at all," she said. "It's a show about Generation X-ers who work in what is, supposedly, a law firm."

McBeal is relatively new to the law firm and gets to try a lot of cases, although she hardly works on them in the office. This isn't how things work in the real world, Farmer said.

McBeal's situation is comparable to a brand-new doctor who's put in charge of brain surgery, but spends all her time trying to get dates, she said.

Another point of controversy is the way McBeal dresses, which some people say is unprofessional.

In the past, female lawyers had to wear plain-colored suits in the courtroom, but that is changing, Farmer said.

Although McBeal wears short skirts, she wears suits in the courtroom, Burd said.

"Aside from (McBeal's) short skirts," she said, "her dress is sort of conservative."

In the real world, showing respect to the court is more important than what you wear, she said. But what you choose to wear can help show respect to the court, she added.

Simple dresses, or even a sweater and skirt have never been a problem for her, Burd said.

Female lawyers have to make a statement in the courtroom, Farmer said, but still, they have to be careful what statement they're making.

"You're not free to do your own thing," she said, "because you represent someone and it matters."