Netflix's 'Suits But Better' Legal Drama Is Officially Over After One More Season

Published Oct 11, 2026, 10:30 PM EDT

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Netflix is preparing to say goodbye to one of its most successful dramas, but it still doesn't feel like the right time to say goodbye to the series that's been described as Suits but better. As streaming platforms have become more prominent, the shows developed from platform to platform have been an important part of creating their identity. Netflix, which has been developing original content since 2012, has been particularly interested in taking existing source material and developing it into an entirely different medium, creating adaptations from books most frequently. The Lincoln Lawyer has been one of its most successful adaptations.

Adapted from Michael Connelly's Mickey Haller series, The Lincoln Lawyer was Netflix's answer to another of the author's adaptations. When Prime Video debuted Bosch, based on Connelly's Harry Bosch novels, they found an in with specific audiences and created something great. The Lincoln Lawyer, which was made into a movie starring Matthew McConaughey in 2011, became something similar for Netflix. A reimagining of the story starring Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey, the series followed a fairly standard format, with serialized and episodic stories blending together to create a different type of legal drama. With four seasons thus far, the series is a massive hit.

While The Lincoln Lawyer and Suits have their similarities, the shows are quite different at their core, and Netflix's original series has been one of the service's highest performing dramas over the past few years. After its upcoming fifth season, sadly, The Lincoln Lawyer will finally be coming to an end, but the franchise has an ace up its sleeve when it comes to forging on.

Unlike Suits, The Lincoln Lawyer Heads Into Its Final Season On A High

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When Suits came to a close, it felt like the right time for the show to bow out. Its final season was the second without Patrick J. Adams' Mike Ross or Meghan Markle's Rachel Zane, which left a fairly clear gap in the show's DNA. While Suits had tried to make things work and keep things going, the series had been going down hill for the past few years as it continued to push through. The Lincoln Lawyer season 5, however, will be headed into its final season on a high note. Despite a cast shakeup, the series has been performing well on Netflix.

While The Lincoln Lawyer season 4 introduced a brand-new character, Mickey's half-sister Emi Finch (Cobie Smulders), in a move that other shows may not have been able to pull off, it's pushed the Netflix hit into new territory. Adapting Connelly's novels throughout each season, The Lincoln Lawyer has been a consistent hit throughout its time on Netflix, and the stories have progressively gotten more interesting from season to season. Although it'll be heartbreaking to lose the show, it's leaving Netflix while it's still well-crafted and acclaimed, which is likely the right call for such a popular series.

The Lincoln Lawyer Ending With Season 5 Is The Smart Call

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Although the series ending is going to be tough for fans who want to see more from Mickey and his team, The Lincoln Lawyer ending now is the right move. For years, Netflix has struggled to keep a balance with its original shows. While some are great, the greats often take a ton of time to produce, meaning there's a loss of momentum between seasons and the interaction with the series is never guaranteed. Other Netflix originals suffer from what appears to be a lack of budget or care, which can make the shows feel under-produced and of lesser quality.

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The Lincoln Lawyer has been one of Netflix's rare originals that fires on all cylinders. The series comes out consistently year after year, and every season feels like a high-quality product, well-written and crated, to ensure that viewers are enjoying every minute. The final season of the series will also serve as a springboard for a spinoff series, one focused on Mickey's half-sister Emi. This all but ensures that the franchise will stay alive, and may mean that it's not the last we see of The Lincoln Lawyer characters on screen. The Netflix series may be ending, but it may not be over entirely.