Legal dramas come and go, and for the most part, I don't pay that much attention. You've heard one “You're out of order!”/”No, you're out of order!” exchange and you've heard them all. But, while watching Fox recently (oh, Sarah Connor, done so soon?), I was stopped in my tracks by a preview for the new drama Canterbury's Law. Actually, it'd be more accurate to say I was dropped in my tracks: It packs a punch.

The preview struck me (oh, the puns!) in several ways. First, how great is it to see Julianna Margulies back on TV? I've been a fan of hers since her ER days; what can I say, the pale skin, black hair, great eyebrows combo totally works for me. Wrap that all up in a smart power suit, and I am sold.

Second, early reviews have been favorable. Matt Roush at TV Guide called it “House in stiletto heels with a law degree.” Be still my heart. Now if only Olivia Wilde or Lisa Edelstein would do a crossover episode. Julianna stars as Elizabeth Canterbury, a rebellious defense attorney who isn't above breaking the law to win justice for her clients. While she is a rising star in the legal world, her personal life is more complicated. She and her husband (Aidan Quinn) are haunted by the still-unsolved disappearance of their young son years ago.

Third, I find the show's focus on a female defense attorney refreshing. If you think about it, outside of comedies (cough, Ally McBeal, cough), most legal shows feature male leads or large ensemble casts. And, let's face it, TV can always use another tough, smart, three-dimensional female character.

And finally, Julianna's familial roots in the law run deep. Her grandmother was one of the first female lawyers in New York state, graduating NYU Law School in 1924 when women were still not allowed to take the bar exam there. She helped to break that barrier, and helped to start the Women's Bar Association in the Bronx before becoming a judge. Julianna said she took the role of Julia Canterbury to honor her grandmother.

Canterbury's Law debuts 10 p.m. Monday on Fox. So, what do you think? Are you intrigued by this new Canterbury's tale?