Mock juries play a vital resource for students who need to hone their skills in questioning witnesses, enhance critical thinking skills, gain more knowledge about the law, and boost oral advocacy skills. Students can learn and understand the issues that lawyers and judges encounter when resolving conflicts.
Experienced lawyers can also benefit from mock juries by weighing the likelihood of the case outcome. Mock juries are always similar to court juries, involving participants such as judges, prosecutors, witnesses, and jurors.
How do mock juries work?
Mock juries are very similar to actual trials. Students begin with a conflict between two people that they cannot resolve without intervention. The participants play various roles, including lawyers, judges, and witnesses, to make the process a mirror of an actual courtroom. A judge or lawyer from the community may preside over the mock trial process and explain where necessary as the others immerse themselves in every aspect of a trial.
For practicing lawyers, mock juries are a great way of preparing for actual trials. The similar number of jurors you would get in the actual courtroom participate in the mock jury after undergoing a proper selection process that includes reviews. They listen to the case presentation and consider all factors, including evidence and witness accounts. As a lawyer, you can identify loopholes and weak arguments, then make necessary changes before the court trial.
Although mock juries follow the same rules and processes, some formats may differ slightly, especially where students are involved. Evidence presentation is according to court procedure, same as facts and witness accounts narrations briefly. Sometimes student mock juries do not include scripts, meaning the participants do not simulate an actual trial process.
Mock Jury Tips
You can always use several juries in one trial to get different perspectives. A larger group translates to more data to analyze, but it can be worthwhile if you want to refine your approach in an upcoming case.
Conducting in-depth interviews after jurors reach a verdict can help you understand their decision-making and thought processes. You can determine why the jury verdict went against or for you as you figure out how to refine your approach in the case trial.
Using open-ended questions when interviewing jurors is advisable. They should not feel like you are cross-examining them. You can also balance the questions from both the defense and plaintiff’s perspectives to maintain the validity of the responses. Some jurors will give answers they believe appeal to either party if they detect a lack of balance.
Mock Jury Facility in Lake County
You can conduct virtual or live mock trials in a state-of-the-art facility at Product Insights, no matter the number of jurors you want. Our market research specialists will help you recruit the right people for the task, conduct interviews professionally, and moderate the process without bias. Our expertise in recruitment lays the proper foundation for your mock trial. Whatever your goal is, we will help you achieve it stress-free.
Contact us today to get started on your mock jury.
Recent Comments