Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jury Interviewer & Litigation Consultant

🎯 Role Definition

As a Jury Interviewer and Litigation Consultant, you will be a critical strategic partner to trial attorneys, translating social science principles into actionable legal strategy. You will delve into the psychology of a jury pool, design and execute sophisticated research projects, and analyze complex data to forecast juror behavior. Your insights will directly influence jury selection, case theme development, and witness preparation, providing our clients with a decisive edge in the courtroom. This role requires a unique blend of analytical rigor, psychological acumen, and exceptional communication skills to navigate the pressures of high-stakes litigation.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Psychology or Sociology Research Assistant
Law School Graduate (J.D.) or Paralegal
Market Research Analyst

Advancement To:

Senior Jury Consultant / Senior Trial Consultant
Director of Litigation Research
Partner in a Trial Consulting Firm

Lateral Moves:

Trial Strategy Coordinator
Corporate Communications or Crisis Management Specialist
In-house Legal Strategist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design and execute pre-trial research projects, including mock trials, focus groups, and community attitude surveys, to test case themes, arguments, and evidence.
Develop, program, and administer comprehensive juror questionnaires for both research participants and in actual voir dire.
Conduct in-depth interviews and moderate deliberations with mock jurors to uncover biases, perceptions, and key drivers of their decision-making processes.
Perform detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis of research data to identify favorable and unfavorable juror profiles, attitudes, and experiences.
Author comprehensive, data-driven reports and create compelling presentations that clearly communicate research findings and strategic recommendations to legal teams.
Assist attorneys directly in the courtroom during the voir dire process, providing real-time analysis of prospective jurors' verbal and non-verbal cues.
Develop and refine voir dire questions and supplemental juror questionnaires (SJQs) designed to elicit candid responses about potential biases.
Analyze juror B-roll and social media/public records research to build a comprehensive understanding of the jury pool's background and potential leanings.
Prepare and conduct post-verdict interviews with actual jurors to gather feedback on trial strategy, evidence presentation, and attorney performance for future cases.
Evaluate the persuasive impact of case narratives, demonstrative evidence, and key trial graphics through structured juror feedback sessions.
Collaborate with graphic artists and trial technicians to refine visual aids based on juror comprehension and feedback from research.
Advise legal teams on case theme development, narrative structure, and opening/closing statement construction based on empirical research findings.
Conduct witness preparation and communication training sessions to help key witnesses deliver clear, credible, and persuasive testimony under pressure.
Manage all logistical aspects of research projects, including participant recruitment, venue coordination, and materials preparation.
Travel frequently to various jurisdictions nationwide to provide on-site support for jury selection, trial monitoring, and research events.
Monitor juror behavior and courtroom dynamics throughout a trial, providing the legal team with daily reports and strategic adjustments.
Perform venue analysis to understand the demographic, attitudinal, and socio-political landscape of the trial jurisdiction.
Stay abreast of emerging social science research, legal trends, and jury-related court rulings to continuously refine consulting methodologies.
Build and maintain strong client relationships with attorneys, paralegals, and legal support staff through excellent service and insightful consultation.
Prepare client-facing proposals, project budgets, and timelines for new litigation research engagements.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Qualitative & Quantitative Research: Mastery of research design, data collection, and analysis, including focus group moderation and survey methodology.
Statistical Analysis: Proficiency with statistical software (e.g., SPSS, R, Stata) for analyzing survey data, including descriptive and inferential statistics.
Data Interpretation: Ability to synthesize complex qualitative and quantitative data into clear, actionable insights and strategic recommendations.
Project Management: Strong organizational skills to manage multiple complex research projects simultaneously from inception to completion.
Legal Knowledge: A firm understanding of the litigation process, rules of evidence, and courtroom procedure, particularly the voir dire process.
Technical Proficiency: Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly PowerPoint for presentations and Excel for data management.

Soft Skills

Exceptional Communication: Superior ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively, both verbally and in writing, to a legal audience.
Critical Thinking: Elite analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to think strategically and make sound judgments under pressure.
Active Listening & Empathy: Ability to listen intently and perceive subtle verbal and non-verbal cues from jurors, witnesses, and clients.
Discretion and Confidentiality: Unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest level of confidentiality and ethical standards.
Composure and Adaptability: Ability to remain calm, focused, and flexible in the high-stress, fast-paced environment of a trial.
Interpersonal Acumen: High emotional intelligence and the ability to build rapport and trust with a wide range of personalities.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field.

Preferred Education:

Advanced degree (M.A., Ph.D., or J.D.) is highly preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Social Psychology, Sociology, or Experimental Psychology
Communications, Political Science, or Law

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-7 years of relevant professional experience in research or a legal environment.

Preferred: Direct experience working as a consultant in a national trial consulting firm. Experience with both civil and criminal matters in state and federal courts is a significant plus.