“The Lincoln Lawyer,” an original Netflix series adapted from Michael Connelly’s novels, follows Mickey Haller – a renowned defense attorney known for his skill at handling complex legal situations for his clients. Through each season of “The Lincoln Lawyer,” Haller takes on high-stakes cases while simultaneously managing to negotiate his way through life’s complex terrain.
Haller has become well-known for his legal acumen and choice of vehicle; both have become iconic symbols of his quick thinking and ability to exit difficult predicaments quickly. Due to this phenomenon, he is commonly known as “The Lincoln Lawyer.” This nickname speaks volumes about Haller’s personality, providing insight into his distinctive approach and style in practicing his profession.
Who is Mickey Haller? What does the term Lincoln Lawyer mean?
Beginning the Netflix series, Mickey Haller takes over the law firm previously owned by Jerry Vincent, an unsuccessful defense lawyer who met an unfortunate end in a parking lot. Haller and his team set up operations within Vincent’s office while making modifications that make it their own; interestingly enough, Mickey still devotes more time and attention to his car than to his job despite this recent change, something which existed even before he took on Vincent’s law firm.
Mickey Haller’s history shows that when he started out as a lawyer, he did not initially have his own office. Instead, he relied on driving around in Lincoln to research cases and identify legal loopholes that would benefit his clients. Even after moving into Vincent’s office, he continued depending on his car for work-related tasks; Izzy Letts continued driving him as his chauffeur while Izzy herself kept all case files within it.
Haller discusses why he prefers working from his car over the traditional workplace, considering it the more sensible option. Lawyers typically handle multiple cases at once, necessitating frequent movement. Haller finds it advantageous to keep all necessary materials for his case with him in his car so he can review them while traveling – each second counts in his high-stakes field, so time wasted in unnecessary commutes cannot be afforded.
Haller finds Lincoln cars efficient for managing tasks on the go and is also considered essential in getting him into the appropriate mindset for solving cases. As Izzy can attest, something about moving forward helps increase Haller’s clarity of thought – an essential characteristic when handling complex cases such as those undertaken by Haller. His choice may have stemmed from personal preference, but author Michael Connelly suggests alliteration may also play a part – being “The Lincoln Lawyer” simply sounds more attractive than other brands’ names associated with other car brands’ names associated with different makes or makes.
Connelly found his inspiration for Mickey Haller in real-life lawyer Mickey Hall, who used his Toyota as his mobile office, according to Connelly. Mickey and Connelly first met during a Dodgers game in 2001, where Connelly learned of Los Angeles County’s 40 different courts; he initially assumed most lawyers would practice out of three courthouses, but upon further inquiry, Mickey clarified why his vehicle doubled up as his workspace, not because he was inadequate or failed but simply “it’s actually the best way to do what he does.” According to Connelly, “it was actually the best way for him.”
Haller’s inspiration, Dan Daly, elaborated further on the practicality of working from his vehicle. Daly explained that working from a trunk of a car is no joke – during his time as a paralegal in Fort Myers, he listened to interviews and other significant events such as drug deals while driving; making essential calls during commutes; billing clients for almost all time spent driving; hence why Haller would opt to manage multiple cases while commuting using his car.
Also See: ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ Ending Explained: What happened to Trevor Elliott?
