“You Have The Right To Remain Silent” Twelve Lessons We Learned From Law & Order

Premiering in 1990, Law & Order was one of the greatest crime/cop/lawyer dramas ever to grace the silver screen. Although other programmes like NYPD Blue were also doing the rounds, Law & Order, and the other series it spawned like SVU, were some of the best "whodunnit" thriller programmes on TV. Here's what we learned from the series...

1. How to read someone their rights

We can all read the Miranda Warning mainly because of this show.

2. There was always someone who said the evidence was "circumstantial"

And they ruined EVERYTHING!

3. Little pieces of evidence were really important.

Like a glove found around the corner with the tiniest speck of blood on it... CRUCIAL to the entire case.

4. DNA always turned up something weird.

"Well, we ran the DNA and then we noticed something weird. This man is actually her father." Mind. Blown.

5. It was ALWAYS someone the person knew...

Basically, when you are watching Law & Order, examine those closest to the victim. Scrutinise them. It's either one of them, or the maid. The maid...

6. The Captain is God.

The all-knowing one, the one that can see the end of the situation while still in the middle of it. The Police Captain is oh so wise.

7. If you're not wearing a bland suit, go home.

Yes, even the women. Go home.

8. There was always a cop/lawyer who the did a bad thing for the greater good.

They were breaking the law, to fix the law. Heroes.

9. Suddenly, every situation happening in your real life felt like an opening for Law & Order.

You're walking home at night and suddenly you hear something rustling in the bushes. Your entire murder and its aftermath begins to play out in your head. Who could be after you?

10. Every crime can be solved in an hour flat.

Everything. There is no crime that cannot be solved outside the hour.

11. You will not be able to stop watching it once it starts.

If you start watching this programme, after five minutes you will not be able to turn it off. Do not make the mistake of "just checking what the next episode is about", it's a never ending cycle.

12. Sometimes the good guys didn't win, but you learned a lesson along the way.

Also, karma is quite a big deal with Law & Order it turns out.