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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jury Research Analyst Assistant

💰 $45,000 - $70,000

LegalJury ConsultingResearchAnalyticsTrial Support

🎯 Role Definition

The Jury Research Analyst Assistant supports litigation teams and jury consultants by designing and executing juror research, administering mock trials and focus groups, collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, preparing jury profiles and juror questionnaires, and producing evidence-based recommendations that inform trial strategy and voir dire. This role blends social science methods, survey design, data analytics, and client-facing communication to improve case outcomes in civil and criminal litigation.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Research Assistant in social science, psychology, or political science
  • Paralegal or litigation support specialist with research duties
  • Data entry/analytics assistant in market research or polling firms

Advancement To:

  • Jury Research Analyst / Senior Jury Consultant
  • Trial Strategy Analyst or Litigation Consultant
  • Manager, Jury Research or Head of Jury Services

Lateral Moves:

  • Litigation Support Analyst
  • Forensic Social Researcher
  • UX Researcher or Market Research Analyst (skills transferable)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Design, administer, and score juror questionnaires and surveys to identify demographic, attitudinal, and behavioral patterns relevant to case themes, voir dire, and jury selection strategy.
  • Recruit, screen, and manage mock jurors and focus group participants using targeted sampling criteria to simulate trial conditions and generate representative opinions.
  • Lead and moderate mock trials, focus groups, and jury deliberation exercises, capturing verbal and non-verbal responses, group dynamics, and verdict rationales for qualitative analysis.
  • Conduct in-depth qualitative analysis of focus group transcripts, interview notes, and field observations using coding frameworks and thematic analysis to surface persuasive themes and juror narratives.
  • Perform quantitative analysis of survey and experimental data, applying descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations, and basic inferential tests to measure juror attitudes and predict verdict tendencies.
  • Build juror profiles (demographic, psychographic, and media-consumption patterns) and map potential juror biases, source credibility perceptions, and predispositions that could affect case outcomes.
  • Prepare clear, client-facing research reports, visualizations, and slide decks that synthesize findings, recommend voir dire questions, and outline strategic messaging for opening statements and cross-examination.
  • Maintain chain-of-custody and confidentiality for juror data, recordings, and participant compensation, ensuring compliance with ethical, legal, and firm privacy standards.
  • Collaborate with trial consultants, attorneys, and exhibit teams to translate research insights into persuasive themes, demonstrative exhibits, and juror-friendly evidence presentations.
  • Develop, manage, and document experimental designs and control conditions for mock trial simulations and pretrial testing, ensuring replicability and defensible methodology.
  • Code, clean, and maintain datasets in Excel, SPSS, R, or other analysis software; create reproducible analysis workflows and metadata documentation.
  • Track and analyze voir dire outcomes, challenge patterns, and peremptory use across multiple cases to inform jury-selection heuristics and client-specific strategies.
  • Monitor local court demographics, venue characteristics, and community sentiment data to assess venue risks and advantages for case strategy and jury selection.
  • Coordinate logistics for research activities including facility booking, audiovisual setup, juror incentive processing, and vendor management (recruiting firms, transcription, and video services).
  • Transcribe or supervise transcription of focus group and mock trial recordings, ensuring accuracy for coding and citation in reports.
  • Implement survey best practices including question wording optimization, randomization, and pretesting to reduce bias and improve measurement validity.
  • Conduct background research on key witnesses and potential juror segments using public records, social media, and commercial databases within legal and ethical boundaries.
  • Support development of voir dire scripts, peremptory challenge recommendations, and juror strike lists grounded in empirical research and case theory.
  • Validate and triangulate research findings by integrating multiple data sources (surveys, mock trials, social media listening, media coverage) to increase confidence in strategic recommendations.
  • Provide real-time research support during trial (e.g., jury polling, daily focus groups, rapid-turn analysis) to adjust themes and tactics in response to courtroom developments.
  • Maintain and contribute to a repository of past case findings, juror profiles, experimental templates, and validated question banks to accelerate future research and institutional learning.
  • Train and mentor junior assistants and interns on research protocols, data security, participant management, and analysis tools to ensure consistency and quality across projects.
  • Identify emerging research methods, technologies, and tools (e.g., sentiment analysis, video coding platforms) that can enhance jury research offerings and operational efficiency.
  • Draft and maintain IRB-level consent materials and participant information sheets where required, and coordinate with legal teams on any necessary approvals.

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.
  • Assist with billing, project tracking, and timekeeping related to research engagements and client deliverables.
  • Help prepare RFP responses and capability summaries by providing sample methodologies, past results, and technical descriptions of research approaches.
  • Maintain quality control on deliverables, ensuring all outputs meet firm style, formatting, and ethical guidelines.
  • Build and maintain relationships with external vendors (recruiting firms, transcription services, AV providers) to ensure reliable execution of research events.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Survey design and implementation: experience writing valid, unbiased juror questionnaires and using online survey platforms (Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms).
  • Quantitative analysis: proficiency with Excel (pivot tables, advanced formulas), SPSS, R, or comparable statistical software for descriptive and basic inferential statistics.
  • Qualitative analysis: experience coding transcripts, thematic analysis, and use of qualitative tools such as NVivo, Dedoose, or manual coding frameworks.
  • Mock trial moderation: proven ability to facilitate mock trials and focus groups, elicit candid juror feedback, and manage group dynamics.
  • Data cleaning and management: consistent practices for dataset validation, de-duplication, and secure storage with version control.
  • Data visualization and reporting: ability to produce clear charts, tables, and slide decks using PowerPoint, Tableau, or similar tools for executive audiences.
  • Juror research methodologies: familiarity with jury selection principles, voir dire preparation, and basic legal and ethical constraints on juror contact and research.
  • Audio/video capture and review: experience operating AV equipment for mock trials, conducting timed coding of non-verbal behavior, and managing recordings.
  • Social media and public-record research: ability to collect and synthesize open-source intelligence about juror cohorts, community sentiment, and media narratives.
  • Experimental design: understanding of control groups, random assignment, and validity threats in pretrial testing and mock trial simulations.
  • Transcription and textual analysis: comfortable producing/verifying transcripts for coding and citation; familiarity with speech-to-text tools and manual correction.
  • Document management and confidentiality tools: knowledge of secure file-sharing platforms, redaction practices, and confidentiality workflows.

Soft Skills

  • Strong written and verbal communication tailored to legal teams and non-technical stakeholders.
  • High attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy and ethical research standards.
  • Critical thinking and the ability to translate complex data into actionable trial strategy recommendations.
  • Client-facing professionalism: ability to present findings, respond to attorney feedback, and adapt deliverables to client needs.
  • Time management and multi-project prioritization in fast-paced trial schedules and shifting priorities.
  • Active listening and empathy for juror perspectives, producing human-centered insights.
  • Discretion, integrity, and respect for confidentiality when handling sensitive case materials and juror data.
  • Collaborative mindset and ability to work closely with attorneys, consultants, designers, and technical vendors.
  • Resilience and adaptability during high-pressure trial support phases and rapid-turn deliverable cycles.
  • Coaching and mentorship skills to support junior researchers and interns.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Criminal Justice, Communications, Statistics, Data Science, or a related social science.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree in Psychology (social/experimental), Applied Social Research, Data Analytics, or Criminal Justice; coursework in research methods and statistics is highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Psychology (social, cognitive, or forensic)
  • Sociology
  • Political Science
  • Applied Statistics / Data Science
  • Communication Studies
  • Legal Studies / Criminal Justice

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–4 years of applied research, jury consulting, market research, or litigation support experience.

Preferred:

  • 2+ years specifically supporting jury research, mock trials, or legal-focused qualitative/quantitative research programs.
  • Demonstrated portfolio of mock trial moderation, juror questionnaires, or analytic deliverables used in pretrial strategy.
  • Experience working in law firm, trial consulting, market research agency, or academic research lab settings.

Keywords: Jury Research Analyst Assistant, jury consulting, mock trials, juror profiling, voir dire, litigation support, qualitative research, quantitative analysis, juror questionnaires, trial strategy, jury selection, focus groups, juror recruitment, data visualization, survey design.

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