Law in Popular Culture

How two pals from torts class are getting a shot at stardom

  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Print.

Trailer for Staten Island Law

Staten Island mediators Michele Sileo and Elura Nanos were often told they could be stars of a reality show.

The two lawyers took the comments seriously, the New York Daily News reports. They found a production company and pitched the show. Now the two longtime friends are stars of a new reality show called Staten Island Law that debuted Saturday on the Oprah Winfrey Network, according to the Daily News and the Staten Island Advance. Six episodes were slated to run.

The Daily News describes Sileo and Nanos as “a pair of wisecracking legal-eagle ladies” while the Advance calls them “a pair of media-savvy, fast-talking lawyer pals.” They met in a torts class at New York Law School and have been friends ever since. The show features them in their mediation practice in Huguenot, and at their legal tutoring business, Lawyer Up. It also shows how the lawyers balance their personal lives with work.

Nanos told the Advance the series is a positive showcase for Staten Island. There’s no catfighting—the positive is emphasized—and the situations are not set up. “That’s not necessarily the formula of reality shows: to showcase people at their best,” she said.

Give us feedback, share a story tip or update, or report an error.