Jury consultant what is

Once undergraduate studies are completed, prospective trial consultants would be well-served to continue their studies in graduate school, as that will improve their knowledge and skills in their field of study while also giving them the opportunity to get real-world experience as a trial consultant. For a student in a trial consulting graduate program, that might involve an internship with a local law firm where they apply their research and analytical skills in helping an attorney prepare their case for trial.

Though a Ph. During that time, students focus much less on formal classroom learning and much more on things like internships, independent research, and completing a doctoral thesis. As with any profession, to be maximally successful, one must possess a variety of qualities and skills. For trial consultants, that includes:. Analytical skills — Trial consultants spend a bulk of their time researching and analyzing data, from legal decisions to human behavior and just about everything in between.

As a result, having the ability to examine problems and evaluate potential solutions is key. Understanding of human behavior — Though not all trial consultants deal with the realms of psychology or sociology, a the very least, a basic understanding of what motivates people to behave the way they do will help trial consultants have a more fruitful working relationship with their clients and other members of their team, like attorneys or other trial consultants.

Persistence — Trial consulting often requires a lot of long hours, working with a variety of people in a host of different settings. Being persistent, having a willingness to go the extra mile, and a desire to find ways to overcome obstacles will serve a trial consultant well. Likability — Trial consultants must be able to get their clients to like and trust them. Additionally, trial consultants must have the ability to gain the trust of witnesses and other stakeholders whom they are tasked with preparing for trial.

Having strong interpersonal skills will allow a trial consultant to be genuine and understanding, which in turn fosters trust. Trial consulting is a rewarding career with many positives. However, there are some negative aspects of the job of which to be aware:. First, consultants with expertise in areas that are in high demand can then demand higher wages.

For example, handwriting experts, who are more likely to be hired for trial consulting, can likely command a higher wage than an expert in animal behavior.

Secondly, the level of expertise is a factor in how much a consultant can make. Third, the geographic area in which a trial consultant works can impact how much money they make. On the one hand, consultants in urban areas can likely command a higher salary simply because there are more trials and more demand for their services compared to consultants in more rural areas. Regardless, most trial consultants can earn a very nice annual wage.

The job outlook for trial consultants can be expected to grow at a similar rate as other legal-related professions. Using that data, we can assume that the need for trial consultants will experience low to average growth in the next ten years. However, as noted earlier, since most court cases are settled before trial, trial consultants will have a better employment outlook if they diversify the services they offer, like mediation and arbitration services.

That helps protect against the diminishing number of cases that actually go to trial by diversifying the services that one offers. Since trial consultants work in the legal world, there are various legal-related professions that offer a similar work experience. This includes:. For example, your jury consultant will inquire about overall case strength, witness performance, and gauge reactions to central arguments. This information allows your Magna jury consultant to work hand in hand with the trial team to rework your presentation, overhaul arguments, and recommend changes to your strategic approach.

Winning a case is a matter of winning the jury. A Magna jury consultant provides your trial team with the necessary jury research, feedback, and guidance to ensure your case is as strong as possible.

Or email us directly at [email protected]. Theme Development Consulting Mock trials offer trial lawyers a unique opportunity to hone, narrow, and focus their case around certain critical elements. Visual Communication Consulting Words carry far more weight when supported by clear and powerful visual aids. Independence Evaluation Consulting Trials are lengthy affairs. Voir Dire and Jury Selection Consulting Voir dire is a pre-trial process wherein attorneys examine jurors and present their initial impressions.

Shadow Jury Consulting Shadow juries are surrogate juries, paid to participate in a mock trial and provide honest feedback. Having an extra set of eyes, ears, and hands is crucial. The case paralegal can assist the jury consultant by taking good notes and providing feedback regarding what was observed by the paralegal during the jury selection process.

Education, experience,communication style, and the ability to work with all levels of the trial team are equally important. A jury consultant can do much more than conduct pre-trial research. While there are never any guarantees in litigation, without question, hiring an experienced jury consultant can improve your chances of obtaining a favorable result for your client.

April J. Ferguson, M. For her clients she is a trusted partner, a team player, and an invaluable asset to their litigation team. Her case experience includes all types of complex commercial litigation, including medical and legal malpractice,products and premises liability, intellectual property, environmental litigation, criminal law matters, eminent domain, construction disputes, divorce and family law actions, Qui Tam litigation, oil and gas, and trucking litigation.

She has been in close to jury trials and worked on thousands of cases throughout the course of her career. Her experience in the courtroom, combined with her jury research experience, gives April a unique perspective into the court and jury system that clients find invaluable.

Subscribe to our emails to receive informative articles and useful tips, twice a month. Marsha Ray. Ric Larson. Patricia A. Joe Paulk, J. Julie Ferguson. Chris Lambert. In spite of the expertise a jury consultant may have, the profession is largely unregulated. Although jury consultants claim to be accurate in their appraising potential jurors, many scholars are skeptical.

Another criticism is that using a jury consultant gives the general public the impression that a favorable verdict can be purchased if the right jury is selected. In light of this criticism, some judges have taken the initiative to have consultants appointed for indigent defendants. The primary purpose of hiring a jury consultant is to help uncover hidden bias of potential jurors. Because preemptory challenges are limited, lawyers may be unsure about some of those questioned.

The job of jury consultants is to give attorneys the criteria necessary for the ideal jury for their clients and to assist in determining what biases do not fit that criteria. A good illustration of this principle is the trial of Daniel and Philip Berrigan in , the first known use of jury consultants.

The Berrigan brothers were accused of conspiring to plan violent demonstrations against the Vietnam War. The defense attorneys decided that in order to have the best jury possible they should poll those persons likely to qualify as jurors in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the site of the trial. The purpose of this polling was to determine which demographic groups would be most sympathetic to their clients.

The results led the defense attorneys to conclude that Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and other Protestant denominations with a fundamentalist outlook would favor the prosecution, as would college graduates because of their support for the position of the U.