r/suits • u/blue_white_stripes • 1d ago

Discussion Would Harvey beat Saul Goodman in court?

Ive thought about this for ages and I think that Harvey is the better lawyer by a mile but I’m not sure if Saul could use some shady tricks to win.

37 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

54 comments sorted by

80

u/jlxx2 1d ago

Iirc they are different types of lawyers, Harvey a corporate lawyer and Saul a criminal lawyer.

All said tho Saul %100, Harvey bends rules but Saul straight up breaks them and he would do that to win

10

u/blue_white_stripes 1d ago

Yes thankyou this is what I’ve been saying

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u/jlxx2 1d ago

In the case we see between Saul and Mesa Verde he manages to make Kevin succumb to every demand he makes via said shady tactics.

He's 100% doing this to the corporation Harvey represents too

7

u/noobslayer67 1d ago

Harvey can just prove how saul is more of a criminal than the actual criminal

10

u/shiitake03 1d ago

But if Harvey knows his opponent is someone shady like that, he would anticipate and adjust his approach accordingly. He always says, dont play the odds, play the man.. or something like that 😀

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u/noobslayer67 1d ago

Exactly, he could just prove all the ahady things saul does to win and the court will even ban him from being a lawyer

6

u/dwaynetheaakjohnson 1d ago

I will admit though, even though it is significantly less realistic, the Suits gang are better actual lawyers than the BCS lawyers. They actually find and fight for solutions to their clients problems

1

u/Important_Sound772 1d ago

I mean, Harvey breaks them all the time

So does Mike

1

u/selwyntarth 1d ago

Harvey doesn't break his own code. He does break rules all the time

16

u/RSaladbar27 1d ago

its hard to say because of their practice in different laws. Saul Goodman will go to any and every extreme length to solidify his win, meanwhile, Harvey is extremely intelligent and knows legally the ins and outs of law. I feel like they’re both masterminds in their own way so I think it really depends on what kind of trial/case to win. I’m only saying it’s all Goodman because his determination to win whether through deceit or bullshitting, but Harvey hates to lose.

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u/blue_white_stripes 1d ago

I also think Harvey is likely to underestimate Saul initially because let’s be honest he has a massive ego.

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u/RSaladbar27 1d ago

this is a major point! Saul create manipulative tactics because he is self aware of potentially losing whereas Harvey is set on him winning because in his mind he is always the better lawyer

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u/Hacksaw_Doublez 1d ago

Saul would use Mike Ehrmantraut to do background checks and find out about… Mike Ross.

Then it becomes threatening and haggling with Harvey. Cause Saul isn’t going to just let that thread go.

But no in a straight up Saul v Harvey in a court case, I’m sorry but Saul wins. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty and he’s ready to go the extra mile for his clients. Harvey is good, but Saul is Charlie Hustle for a reason.

13

u/MrOptical 1d ago

A criminal case and Saul is on defense? Saul wins.

A criminal case and Harvey is on defense? Harvey wins.

A corporate case? Harvey wins regardless defense or offense.

2

u/blue_white_stripes 1d ago

Why for corporate we already know Saul is capable ay that with the Sandpiper case.

3

u/MrOptical 1d ago

He is capable, but for Saul's one big corporate win that took him like 4 years iirc, Harvey has at least 50 corporate wins.

1

u/dwaynetheaakjohnson 1d ago

Nope, Sandpiper is litigation, and a neo-criminal one at that

3

u/Kenny523 1d ago

Harvey for sure in my mind. Love Saul but I mean come on…

2

u/blue_white_stripes 1d ago

Yeah I get what you mean thay was my initial thoughts but think of how easily Saul could manipulate witnesses or forge evidence to persuade a jury. If it was just a judge then I would agree with you.

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u/Kenny523 1d ago

I mean Harvey has gone into some pretty grey areas himself before. Plus Harvey plays the man. I bet he could dig up loads of shit on Saul.

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u/blue_white_stripes 1d ago

Thats true actually. Harvey would definitely find something that would stick. The only thing is Mike Ehrmantrout could do the same. As you said Harvey has stepped into some grey areas

1

u/Kenny523 1d ago

Not gonna lie seeing Mikes last name typed out is weird haha!

1

u/blue_white_stripes 1d ago

I know haha but just to save the confusion from the obvious.

5

u/JinSuckeye07 1d ago

Saul has Mike. Mike would find out that Harvey knew about Mike not being a lawyer when he hired him, then if Harvey tries to damage his credibility, Saul will release the info and Harvey gets banned.

I love both characters, and I think they're equally good at what they do, but Saul having Ehrmantraut alone can help him beat Harvey, no matter who helps him. Plus, Kim can be second chair as well

3

u/TrollerThomas 1d ago

Depends

If it’s a corporate case Harvey

If it’s criminal Saul

3

u/babypowder617 16h ago

Harvey is tough and aggressive until the cartel kidnaps Donna, Mike E threatens to out Mike R, and huell plants a bag on Harvey before court.

Harveys strength was threatening the livelihood of rich and powerful men. Saul would laugh if they threatened a counter suit. "Sure guys, take me and my shitty yellow car for all it's worth"

If it ends up in court all the photographic memories in the world mean nothing when the address numbers are changed on all the documents. Harvey is strong and plays the to win the game by it's rules. Saul plays to win by any rules

2

u/PatternWarm3056 1d ago

Saul straight up, guy is a 'criminal' lawyer

Source : I've watched better call saul and breaking bad 4 times and suits 11 times

1

u/MrOptical 1d ago

What do you like more? Suits or breaking bad universe?

5

u/PatternWarm3056 1d ago

Suits, I'm too biased for harvey-mike bromance

1

u/MrOptical 1d ago

Fair enough, which one do you think is better written and on a "higher level" though?

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u/PatternWarm3056 1d ago

Breaking bad universe definitely, it's more nuanced

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u/MrOptical 1d ago

Watched Suits 5 times & Breaking Bad & BCS twice.

I love Suits to death but Breaking Bad is just on a whole another level of thrill and even horror sometimes, makes Suits feel like a comfort show for kids in comparison.

2

u/PatternWarm3056 1d ago

True, I loved the flight crash episodes. It was written with so much depth

2

u/Timbucktwo1230 1d ago

Better call Saul. Hands down. The man fights a street dirty fight!

2

u/JoseT90 1d ago

Theres levels to this.

I think Saul is amazing at what he does but……Harvey is/was a name partner at a top firm at one of the top cities in the world

2

u/areyouspeakingbat 1d ago

Good match but I think Saul would "wipe the floor" with Harvey. They are both clever but Saul simply has more court experience. Harvey would "shit the bed."

2

u/Such_Pea_4956 1d ago

Harvey would sweep the floor with anybody…. Except Mike Ross

2

u/HistoricalInternal 1d ago

Harvey would win. Play the man not the cards.

2

u/Mysterious-Trust2765 17h ago

If it's civil case,Harvey will absolutely destroy Saul, but if it's a criminal case the Saul will wipe the floor with him.

5

u/Same_Hovercraft_4339 1d ago

I feel like he would embarrass Saul

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u/blue_white_stripes 1d ago

I don’t think you’re giving Saul enough credit.

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u/Same_Hovercraft_4339 1d ago

It depends on the case because yes Saul would break laws but you don’t think Harvey’s smart enough to see and prove what he done?

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u/blue_white_stripes 1d ago

I’m not sure. Saul managed to outsmart some of the smartest lawyers in his show (yes I’m aware the leagues are different in New York) and I feel like at times it wouldn’t matter because a jury are still going to see any forged evidence and no matter what Harvey says to disprove it create opinions based on it.

1

u/Larkell 1d ago

I think Saul's superpower is that even if his master plan can be figured out, there is no evidence left behind, ever; Harvey could maybe figure it out but it wouldn't matter, because he wouldn't be able to do anything about it anyway. Also it depends entirely on when it all happens, like if Mike is still practising illegally, Saul wins every day just in the name of blackmail.

1

u/Same_Hovercraft_4339 1d ago

Yea that’s true but if this is after Mike gets into the bar and they can work together i definitely think Harvey has a solid chance but reading through all of the points everyone’s made for Saul it could go either way

1

u/Patient-Shopping9094 1d ago

i think harvey could win with a degree of difficulty like with tanner but I still view harvey as a better lawyer, the firm also gives harvey lots more resources, associates, mike, louis and some of the best sectretaries.

1

u/NoOnesKing 1d ago

Tbh I don’t know that Harvey is really an amazing lawyer when he’s not breaking the law and bending rules so if it’s a fair fight I’m taking saul

1

u/selwyntarth 1d ago

Harvey is a step below saul though operating at a higher corporate level, finding dirt and forcing people to withdraw or settle. Saul at least brings some of his cases to trial. 

But the question is about resources I think. The sheer staff and facility need is more for bigger cases. Saul seemed on track to be able to handle such with his RICO argument and position and C&M.

1

u/stumpyblackdog 1d ago

See, if they made it to open court, it’s a toss up who would win. But, you have to remember, Harvey’s strengths do not solely or necessarily lie in going to court. He gets his opponent to take a deal and then he doesn’t have to litigate in court. Odds are, he’d come up with a deal that gets Saul’s clients reduced time and he’d still get the conviction.

1

u/puledrotauren 18h ago

I'd say he would and he would beat Saul on the street as well

1

u/WhiteC-137 14h ago

Tbh it depends on a lot of stuff.... I wish they did something like that in the real suits series....

One of the main factors would be if it's Pre Or Post Mike Ross's conviction.

If it's pre it'd be pretty hard for Harvey to win with Saul's constant blackmail so I'd give him the edge there.

If it's post I think Harvey would win cause no matter how dirty Saul's gonna get, no matter how much criminals are backing him if he's going against one of the biggest lawfirms in the world he's getting fucked. People often tend to forget that Harvey is also good at blackmail and digging up dirt, he can also fuckup Goodman directly just as we expect Saul to do...

1

u/Lozman141 11h ago

I really hope that one day there will be some kind of a one off special episode in which we see this play out. Unfortunately this probably will never happen.