Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Jury Field Assistant

🎯 Role Definition

A Jury Field Assistant is the logistical and operational backbone of our jury research projects. This role works directly under the guidance of senior Jury Consultants to execute flawless mock trials, focus groups, and community attitude surveys. You are the face of the project on-site, responsible for creating a professional environment, managing participants, and meticulously documenting proceedings. Your work ensures that the data we collect is valid and that our senior consultants have the support they need to develop powerful insights and winning trial strategies for our clients. This is a dynamic role that requires a blend of sharp organizational skills, interpersonal finesse, and a keen eye for detail in high-pressure situations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Paralegal or Legal Assistant
Market Research Assistant or Coordinator
Psychology or Sociology Research Assistant
Event Coordinator or Meeting Planner

Advancement To:

Jury Consultant / Trial Consultant
Project Manager, Litigation Support
Senior Research Analyst (Trial Strategy)
Director of Jury Research Operations

Lateral Moves:

Litigation Paralegal
Market Research Analyst
Corporate Event Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Coordinate the complete logistical lifecycle of jury research projects, including venue sourcing and booking, catering arrangements, and securing necessary audio/visual equipment.
Manage the recruitment process for mock jurors and research participants, ensuring adherence to specific demographic, attitudinal, and case-related screening criteria.
Serve as the primary on-site contact for research projects, overseeing participant check-in, distribution of confidential materials, and processing of incentive payments.
Prepare and organize all project materials, including juror questionnaires, case summaries, video depositions, demonstrative exhibits, and deliberation instructions.
Facilitate the smooth flow of the research day, managing schedules, transitioning between project phases, and troubleshooting any logistical or technical issues that arise.
Meticulously observe and document juror deliberations and group discussions, capturing verbatim comments, group dynamics, non-verbal cues, and key themes.
Assist senior consultants during voir dire by tracking juror responses, noting potential cause or peremptory challenges, and managing juror profile data in real-time.
Set up and operate audio and video recording equipment to ensure all aspects of the research, particularly deliberations, are captured clearly for later analysis.
Maintain a secure and confidential environment for all participants and project materials, ensuring strict adherence to protocols before, during,and after the research.
Administer and collect quantitative and qualitative questionnaires from participants, ensuring completeness and clarity of responses.
Transcribe key excerpts from video or audio recordings of mock juror deliberations to support the development of qualitative analysis and client reports.
Conduct community attitude surveys and venue-driven research, which may involve travel to specific courthouse locations to gather data on the local jury pool.
Manage on-site client needs, providing a professional and supportive interface between the client legal team and the research project environment.
Assist with the setup of mock courtroom environments, including the arrangement of tables, chairs, and technology to simulate a realistic trial setting.

Secondary Functions

Support the data entry and cleaning of quantitative data from juror questionnaires into statistical software or Excel for preliminary analysis.
Assist in the creation of PowerPoint presentations and written reports for clients by compiling data, creating charts, and proofreading narrative summaries.
Help maintain and update the firm's proprietary database of past and potential mock jurors, research venues, and project vendors.
Conduct background research on case-related topics, key witnesses, or legal precedents to support the development of research materials.
Participate in internal team debriefs following projects to discuss execution, identify challenges, and recommend process improvements for future engagements.
Assemble final project binders and digital archives, ensuring all data, reports, and materials are correctly filed and accessible for the case team.
Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory analysis to uncover initial trends or patterns from juror feedback.
Collaborate with the consulting team to refine and test juror questionnaires and research instruments before they are deployed in the field.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency: Advanced skills in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are essential for creating materials, managing data, and building client-facing presentations.
Logistical & Event Management: Demonstrable ability to plan and execute complex events, managing multiple vendors, schedules, and on-site logistics.
Survey Software Familiarity: Experience using platforms like SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics, or similar tools to create, distribute, and collect survey data.
Data Entry & Management: High accuracy and speed in transcribing qualitative notes and inputting quantitative data from physical questionnaires into digital formats.
A/V Equipment Operation: Basic knowledge of setting up and troubleshooting cameras, microphones, and presentation equipment.
Legal Terminology: A foundational understanding of trial processes, legal terminology, and the roles of different parties in litigation.

Soft Skills

Exceptional Attention to Detail: The ability to execute tasks with precision and catch small errors is paramount, as the integrity of the research depends on it.
Discretion and Confidentiality: Unquestionable integrity and the ability to handle highly sensitive case information and participant data with the utmost confidentiality.
Composure Under Pressure: The capacity to remain calm, professional, and resourceful in a fast-paced, high-stakes, and often unpredictable environment.
Superior Organizational & Time Management Skills: Proven ability to manage multiple competing priorities and deadlines without sacrificing quality.
Strong Observational Skills: A keen ability to observe group dynamics and individual behaviors, listening for subtle cues and important themes.
Excellent Interpersonal & Communication Skills: Polished and professional demeanor for interacting with senior attorneys, consultants, and diverse members of the public.
Proactive Problem-Solving: An adaptable, "can-do" attitude with the foresight to anticipate needs and independently resolve issues as they arise.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university.

Preferred Education:

Master's Degree or Juris Doctor (J.D.) is a significant plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Psychology
Sociology
Communications
Political Science
Criminal Justice
Pre-Law

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1-3 years of professional experience in a relevant setting. This is an excellent role for an early-career professional looking to build a career in the legal field.

Preferred:

Direct experience in a litigation support firm, a law firm's trial team, or a market research company is highly desirable. Experience that involves project coordination, research support, or event management is particularly relevant. A passion for the law, human behavior, and the jury system is a must.