Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Jury Field Analyst

🎯 Role Definition

A Jury Field Analyst is a specialized professional at the intersection of psychology, data analysis, and legal strategy. This role is fundamentally about understanding the human element within the legal system. The analyst is responsible for designing, executing, and interpreting research projects—such as mock trials, focus groups, and juror surveys—to provide trial attorneys with actionable insights into how potential jurors might perceive a case. They are the on-the-ground experts who recruit and manage mock jurors, observe and code their deliberations, and translate complex human behaviors and biases into clear, data-driven recommendations for case themes, voir dire strategies, and overall trial presentation. This position requires a unique blend of sharp analytical skills, deep empathy, and impeccable communication, as the analyst's work directly influences high-stakes litigation outcomes.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Paralegal or Litigation Support Specialist
Academic Researcher (Psychology, Sociology, Communications)
Market Research Analyst

Advancement To:

Senior Jury Consultant or Trial Strategist
Director of Litigation Research
Managing Consultant

Lateral Moves:

Trial Technology Consultant
Corporate Market Researcher / Consumer Insights Analyst
In-house Litigation Support Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design and implement comprehensive research plans, including focus groups, mock trials, and community attitude surveys, to test case themes, evidence, and arguments.
Develop detailed screening questionnaires and manage the recruitment of mock jurors who accurately reflect the demographic and attitudinal profile of a specific trial venue.
Coordinate and manage all logistical aspects of in-person and online jury research projects, including venue booking, technology setup, and participant management.
Act as the primary facilitator or moderator for focus group discussions and mock jury deliberations, guiding conversations to elicit candid feedback on key case issues.
Conduct in-depth qualitative and quantitative analysis of juror-related data, including deliberation videos, questionnaire responses, and voting patterns, to identify critical trends.
Author comprehensive, client-facing reports and create compelling presentations that distill complex research findings into clear, strategic recommendations for legal teams.
Assist attorneys in developing persuasive case narratives, opening statements, and closing arguments based on empirical feedback from mock jurors.
Analyze juror questionnaire data and social media profiles (when ethically and legally permissible) to assist with juror profiling and the development of voir dire questions.
Observe live trial proceedings and provide real-time feedback to the legal team on juror reactions, body language, and group dynamics.
Develop and manage shadow juries that run concurrently with an actual trial, providing daily feedback on how the case is being perceived.
Conduct post-verdict interviews with actual jurors to gather insights for future litigation strategy and to understand the key drivers of the final verdict.
Assist in the preparation of key witnesses by providing feedback on their communication style, clarity, and perceived credibility based on mock juror reactions.
Stay current with social science research, public opinion trends, and legal precedents that could impact juror attitudes and decision-making in specific jurisdictions.
Manage and analyze large datasets using statistical software (such as SPSS or R) to uncover statistically significant correlations between juror demographics, attitudes, and verdict orientation.
Create and maintain a proprietary database of juror research findings, case outcomes, and venue-specific data to enhance the firm's institutional knowledge.
Collaborate closely with graphic designers and trial technicians to ensure that demonstrative evidence is clear, persuasive, and resonates effectively with a lay audience.
Present research findings and strategic recommendations directly to senior partners, general counsel, and other high-level stakeholders in a confident and professional manner.
Draft effective voir dire questions and juror questionnaires tailored to the specific issues and biases relevant to a particular case and venue.
Travel extensively, often on short notice, to trial venues across the country to conduct fieldwork and provide on-site support for jury selection and trials.
Uphold the highest standards of confidentiality and discretion when handling sensitive case information and interacting with clients and research participants.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis from senior consultants and clients.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and the continuous improvement of research methodologies.
Collaborate with business development units to draft proposals and scope new litigation research projects.
Participate in sprint planning and agile-style project management for complex, multi-stage research initiatives.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Qualitative Data Analysis: Mastery of coding and thematically analyzing unstructured data from deliberations, focus groups, and open-ended survey questions.
Quantitative Data Analysis: Proficiency with statistical software (e.g., SPSS, R, Stata) to perform analyses like regression, correlation, and t-tests on juror data.
Survey Design & Methodology: Deep understanding of how to construct unbiased, valid, and reliable questionnaires for both recruitment and substantive issue testing.
Project Management: Ability to manage complex logistics, timelines, budgets, and multiple stakeholders for research events.
Legal Knowledge: A strong foundational understanding of the trial process, rules of evidence, and legal terminology.
Public Speaking & Presentation: Skill in creating and delivering clear, persuasive, and data-driven presentations to sophisticated audiences (i.e., attorneys).
Technical Proficiency: Comfortable using and troubleshooting presentation software, online research platforms (e.g., Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey), and video conferencing tools.

Soft Skills

Critical & Analytical Thinking: The ability to dissect complex legal arguments and identify the underlying psychological and emotional drivers for a jury.
Exceptional Written & Verbal Communication: Capable of translating dense statistical findings and psychological theory into plain, actionable language for attorneys.
Keen Observation Skills: An almost forensic ability to read non-verbal cues, group dynamics, and subtle shifts in attitude within a group of strangers.
Empathy & Interpersonal Acumen: The capacity to connect with research participants from all walks of life and understand diverse perspectives and biases.
Discretion & Professionalism: Unwavering commitment to confidentiality and the ability to remain poised and objective in high-pressure, high-stakes environments.
Adaptability & Resilience: Thrives in a fast-paced, travel-heavy role with unpredictable hours and the need to pivot strategy at a moment's notice.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Education:

Master’s Degree (M.A.), Juris Doctor (J.D.), or Doctorate (Ph.D.)

Relevant Fields of Study:

Psychology (especially Social or Cognitive)
Sociology or Criminology
Communications
Political Science
Law

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2-5 years of relevant experience in a related field.

Preferred: Experience working in a trial consulting firm, a market research company with a litigation-focused practice, a university-based research lab focused on jury decision-making, or as a paralegal/analyst within a litigation-heavy law firm. Direct experience with moderating focus groups or managing research projects is highly valued.