Elle's sorority sisters band together to help Elle out when they realize she's serious about getting into law school. They study late with her, act as quiz masters for her, and throw a huge party when her qualifying grades are announced.
Brooke’s reaction to the news that Elle was harassed by Callahan. You can see that she is outraged towards Callahan on behalf of her sorority sister.
After Callahan came onto her and Vivian accusing her of sleeping her way into the grades, Elle was just about ready to quit. When Elle talks about it at the Salon, a chair turns around to reveal Professor Stromwell. Her line is what gets Elle out of her funk and back to the trial. It later becomes one of the factors that helps Elle get over Warner.
Professor Stromwell: If you're gonna let one stupid prick ruin your life, you're not the girl I thought you were.
At one point in the film, Elle overhears her friend David being cruelly rejected by an Alpha Bitch he was asking out. Knowing how sweet he's been to her up to that point, she takes this opportunity to repay him by pretending to be his spurned girlfriend in front of the other girl to help make him look impressive, and it works. He also helps her represent Brooke at the trial by researching the laws on students defending a client.
During Elle's study montage, you see her struggling to reach a book in the library. David simply reaches up and grabs the book for her. It's the first time we see one of the other students being kind to her, and it's especially sweet that it's someone as shy as David.
Although Elle soon drags Chutney through the mud for her father's murder, she briefly comments that she can pull off a perm well, complimenting her bone structure.
Elle's graduation speech at the end of the film, which shows how much she matured during the film and the Time Skip. But as the very last bit shows, she's still the same happy-go-lucky Elle Woods.
Elle: Congratulations, Class of 2004. *flashes big, goofy smile* We did it!!!
The simple fact that Kyle, the handsome delivery man, is so obviously interested in Paulette, a woman whose self-worth could not be more low. By the Time Skip, they're married and she is expecting their first child who will be named after Elle.
Elle's sorority sisters come to see her in her trial and are super excited to be there, eagerly showing up of their own free will. After how shallow these girls were portrayed throughout the movie, you can tell at this point that they really are Elle's true friends. Doubles as a Funny Moment.
You see Elle's parents applauding her at the end. It shows that, despite them not thinking she's serious enough for law school, they're super proud of their daughter for graduating from Harvard.
It's also possible to see Enid among the students. This implies that Enid too warmed up to Elle and possibly became friends with her.
Vivian and Elle bonding for the first time, when Vivian admits that she found it very classy of Elle not to reveal Brooke's alibi. Likewise, Bruiser immediately takes to her, and Elle recognizes how kind and sweetly Vivian treats him, mentioning he really likes her.
And in the epilogue it states that the two became best friends.
Elle's student adviser at first seems that she doesn't take Elle's desire to transfer to Harvard seriously. To be fair, she has good reasons not to. But once Elle explains it's what she wants, the adviser gives Elle all the information she needs on the requirements for the transfer with no fuss, snarking, or backhanded compliments. She was, at that point, the first authority figure in Elle's life to give her the support she was looking for.
Despite being utterly stupefied by Elle's unorthodox admissions video, the Harvard admissions board do not let it make them overlook her legitimate qualifications or influence their decision to accept her, showing that they were truly fair and reasonable administrators.
A subtle moment is a scene showing Elle and Paulette spending Christmas with each other. Beside further showcasing their friendship, Elle is seen looking wondrously out the window at the falling snow — given that she is from Southern California, Elle probably doesn't see snow very often. This is possibly the first true white Christmas she's ever experienced.
A Deleted Scene shows the aftermath of Elle and Warner's break-up: She tearfully confesses what happened to Margot and Serena, who rush to console her. They become extremely offended that Warner would have the audacity to break up with her and vow to destroy him and his entire fraternity.
Elle visiting Brooke in jail. While it may have been viewed as conflict of interest among her fellow law students, the fact that she still gives a distraught Brooke the benefit of the doubt, provides a goodie basket (with a magazine, aroma therapy candles, etc), and respects Brooke's confidentiality even when she admits her embarrassing alibi is very sweet.
When Callahan finds out that she went to the prison Elle admits she got the alibi but keeps her word to Brooke and doesn't reveal it. Even with Callahan berating her and the other interns trying to pressure her into giving it up she refuses to break her promise. Vivian later admits that she was impressed.
Emmett is nothing short of trusting and kind to Elle from to beginning to end of the movie. He's the first person at Harvard to not judge Elle, gives genuine advice for how to handle the professors, and believes her when she tells him that the pool boy is gay and that Callahan (Emmett's boss, mind you) sexually harassed her. Plus he defends her against Vivian when she thinks Elle was sleeping with Callahan for the internship.
The Musical
Elle telling her mom she got the internship - "Look at my name in black and white! Your daughter's doing something right!"
Some theatre groups that do the show add a moment between Vivienne and Elle during "So Much Better," when both are so ecstatic about getting the internship that they hug each other! Before Vivenne's Heel–Face Turn, no less!
Elle and Emmett - "You were the best thing about this place..." and the rest of "Legally Blonde." It's heartbreaking, sure, but the strength of their relationship is just wonderful.
While most of the song is a Tear Jerker, there's a subtle heartwarming moment to it: after Callahan sexually harasses her, revealing that this is the only reason he made her an intern in the first place, and due to a misunderstanding Warner accuses her of sleeping her way to the top (and Vivienne, who knows what actually happened, remains silent at that point), Elle is devastated... but she at least trusts Emmett enough to give him a heartfelt thank you for his help, say goodbye to him and know that he won't judge her as harshly as the others. And she's right.
Due to simplifying the sets for subsequent productions, in all performances after the original Broadway show, the number "Legally Blonde" never leaves the courtroom. Thus Emmett's Anguished Declaration of Love, instead of being given to a closed door and not actually heard by Elle, is something she actually hears, and her reaction is adorable — for example, Lauren Ashley Zakrin, who headlined the national tour for awhile, turns around (unseen by Emmett, who is facing away from her) with the giddiest smile on her face.
The song "Legally Blonde: Reprise" in its entirety. Where to begin? First we get Vivienne admitting that she's wrong and making up with Elle, which was great. Elle decides to be herself in her truly awesome pink suit. Then Paulette gets her Irish Step Dancing UPS Man - It Makes Sense in Context, I swear! Then Brooke fires Callahan and hires Elle... That scene is one moment of heartwarming after another!
Vivienne telling Elle to get back in that courtroom and kick ass, because she can. (Also, she has the best frickin' shoes.)
Before that, Paulette trying to talk some sense into Elle when she announces that she's leaving.
Elle: I just came to say goodbye. Paulette: What? Goodbye? Elle: I'm going back home to California. Paulette: What!? California, why? Elle: I'm going back to where I make sense. Paulette:Honey, you're not making any now,what happened?
And then Emmett's words after he offers to supervise her: "Did you actually think I was going to let you get away?" Elle may have stopped believing in herself for awhile, but Emmett never stopped believing in her.
In the musical, Elle's parents, no longer dismissive of law school, come with the girls from Delta Nu sorority to see Elle in her trial.
The first song in the musical has the chorus gushing about how Elle and her boyfriend Warner were going to be a great couple, though this was all not-so-serious speculation, camp and other jokes. That song is reprised one last time during the finale where the lyrics receive a more meaningful context with Elle and Emmett hooking up.
Then of course there's the finale - particularly Elle's proposal to Emmett. So cute!
A fridge heartwarming: Why does Elle's father think she wouldn't fit into law school? Because in his words, "law school is for boring, ugly, serious people—and [Elle] is none of those things."
Elle rejects Warner's proposal at the end but thanks him because without him breaking up with her she wouldn't have ended up where she is now. He accepts this and they hug, parting on good terms.
Emmett's entire relationship with Elle, full stop. First of all, he reaches out to help her with absolutely no hidden agenda — he really does just want to be her friend and help her any way he can. He always stands by her and never stops believing in her, but he never hesitates to call her out, either, and is always ready with a You Are Better Than You Think You Are moment. He sees her for who she is and not what she looks like, and when he does fall in love with her, it has everything to do with her heart and who she is as a person. And Elle's side is just as heartwarming; she "loves [his] scruffy vibe" and falls in love with her best friend, but also uses her knowledge of fashion and style to help him get ahead in his career. Just.... their entire relationship is an absolute joy.
Elle: That's the best part The outside is new But now it reflects what's already in you Couldn't change that if I wanted to And I do not....
This is no gift It's payment in kind Because you saw beyond All the blonde to my mind...
The ending of "Chip on My Shoulder". You can hear just how proud Emmett is of how far Elle’s come.
Emmett: Guess she got a chip on her shoulder Maybe some wise man told her With the chance we've been given We gotta be driven as Hell! She was something to see there I'm just happy I could be there First big test and she aced it She's so close she can taste it She got a chip on her shoulder Guess you never can te-e-ell… With little Miss Woods comma Elle!
The little happy dance he does at the line “Little Miss Woods comma Elle” during the MTV airing is just Adorkable.
