Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jury Evaluator

🎯 Role Definition

As a Jury Evaluator, you will be at the forefront of litigation strategy, providing our legal teams with a decisive edge. You are the lens through which we understand how a jury will perceive a case. This pivotal role involves designing and executing sophisticated jury research projects, including mock trials and focus groups, to test case themes, arguments, and evidence. You will be responsible for meticulously analyzing juror attitudes, biases, and decision-making drivers to deliver actionable intelligence. The ideal candidate is a master of both qualitative and quantitative analysis, capable of translating complex human behavior into clear, strategic recommendations that directly influence trial outcomes.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Psychology or Sociology Research Assistant
Paralegal or Legal Assistant with an interest in litigation
Market Research Analyst

Advancement To:

Senior Jury Consultant / Lead Trial Strategist
Director of Jury Research
Managing Consultant / Partner

Lateral Moves:

Litigation Support Manager
Corporate Market Research Strategist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design and develop comprehensive research methodologies for mock trials, focus groups, and community attitude surveys to address specific case objectives.
Draft and refine case summaries, witness testimonies, and demonstrative evidence to be presented to mock jurors in a balanced and realistic manner.
Recruit, screen, and manage panels of mock jurors, ensuring demographic representation that accurately mirrors the trial venue.
Moderate and facilitate focus group discussions and mock jury deliberations, guiding conversations to explore key case issues and arguments in-depth.
Develop and administer detailed juror questionnaires to capture demographic information, pre-existing attitudes, and real-time reactions to case presentations.
Conduct rigorous qualitative analysis of deliberation recordings and open-ended survey responses to identify key themes, juror profiles, and persuasive turning points.
Perform statistical analysis on quantitative data from juror questionnaires to identify significant correlations between juror demographics, attitudes, and verdict leanings.
Author comprehensive, data-driven reports that synthesize all research findings, providing clear strategic recommendations for voir dire, case theme development, and trial presentation.
Present research findings and strategic insights directly to trial attorneys, corporate counsel, and other key stakeholders in a clear and compelling manner.
Collaborate with legal teams to develop and refine voir dire questions and supplemental juror questionnaires (SJQs) aimed at identifying potentially biased jurors.
Assist in witness preparation by providing feedback based on mock juror reactions to testimony, demeanor, and credibility.
Analyze juror non-verbal communication and group dynamics during deliberations to provide a richer layer of insight beyond spoken words.
Evaluate the persuasive impact of attorney arguments, opening statements, and closing arguments, offering data-backed suggestions for improvement.
Identify critical juror profiles, such as leaders, followers, contrarians, and stealth jurors, and advise on strategies for engaging with each during jury selection.
Manage all logistical aspects of jury research projects, including venue selection, technology setup (A/V recording), and participant management.
Conduct in-depth background research and social media analysis on potential and seated jurors to uncover potential biases or risks, in compliance with all ethical guidelines.
Develop and test various case narratives and themes to determine which resonate most powerfully with different juror segments.
Collaborate with graphic artists and trial technology specialists to assess and enhance the clarity and persuasiveness of demonstrative evidence.
Stay abreast of the latest social science research, legal trends, and public opinion on topics relevant to jury decision-making.
Provide real-time analysis and strategic consultation to trial teams during live trials, including observing the jury and advising on daily strategy adjustments.
Maintain and contribute to an internal knowledge base of jury research data, case studies, and best practices to enhance the firm's collective intelligence.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc legal team requests for rapid analysis of juror profiles or emerging case issues.
Contribute to the organization's repository and strategy for leveraging jury research and case outcome data.
Collaborate with business units and legal teams to translate complex case needs into actionable research and data engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies for technology-driven research projects within the trial consulting team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Qualitative Data Analysis: Expertise in thematic analysis, content analysis, and narrative analysis of unstructured data (e.g., deliberation transcripts, focus group discussions).
Quantitative Data Analysis: Proficiency in statistical software (such as SPSS, R, or Stata) and Excel for analyzing survey data, running regressions, and identifying significant trends.
Survey Design & Methodology: Deep understanding of question construction, scale development, and sampling techniques to create valid and reliable research instruments.
Legal Knowledge: Strong familiarity with the litigation process, legal terminology, and rules of evidence.
Project Management: Ability to manage multiple complex research projects simultaneously from conception to completion, ensuring they are on time and within budget.
Presentation & Reporting: Skill in using tools like PowerPoint or Keynote to distill complex data into visually compelling and easily digestible reports and presentations for a legal audience.

Soft Skills

Critical Thinking & Analytical Acumen: The ability to dissect complex legal cases and juror behaviors to uncover underlying drivers and strategic opportunities.
Superior Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate nuanced findings clearly and persuasively to high-level stakeholders.
Active Listening: The capacity to listen intently to jurors and clients alike to capture subtle cues, unspoken concerns, and critical information.
Objectivity & Impartiality: A commitment to providing unbiased, data-driven analysis, free from personal preconceptions or desired outcomes.
Discretion & Confidentiality: Unwavering integrity in handling highly sensitive and confidential case information.
Interpersonal Skills & Empathy: The ability to build rapport with and understand diverse individuals, essential for moderating groups and interpreting juror perspectives.
Adaptability: Flexibility to adjust research plans and strategies in response to evolving case dynamics or unexpected findings.
Meticulous Attention to Detail: A sharp eye for detail in data collection, analysis, and reporting to ensure accuracy and credibility.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field.

Preferred Education:

Advanced degree (Master’s, Ph.D., or J.D.) is strongly preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Social Psychology
Sociology
Communications
Political Science
Law

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3-7 years of experience in social science research, market research, litigation support, or a directly related field.

Preferred:

Direct experience working for a trial consulting firm, conducting mock trials, or providing litigation support on high-stakes cases. Experience with both civil and criminal matters is a plus.