import matplotlib.pyplot as plt


plt.subplot(211)
plt.plot([1,2,3], label="test1")
plt.plot([3,2,1], label="test2")
# Place a legend above this subplot, expanding itself to
# fully use the given bounding box.
plt.legend(bbox_to_anchor=(0., 1.02, 1., .102), loc=3,
           ncol=2, mode="expand", borderaxespad=0.)

plt.subplot(223)
plt.plot([1,2,3], label="test1")
plt.plot([3,2,1], label="test2")
# Place a legend to the right of this smaller subplot.
plt.legend(bbox_to_anchor=(1.05, 1), loc=2, borderaxespad=0.)

plt.show()