Lawyers Recruiting Mock Juries on the Net

The best way to find out would be with a mock jury trial. But rather than spend several days away from the office working with a live mock jury, the firm decided to take the case online, to a virtual jury. And in just a few days, said attorney Sophie Woodworth, it had the responses it was looking for. “We wanted to see if we were on the right track with our intended argument,” she said. “The feedback supported our positions. The process was quick, and the best part was it required a minimum of effort on our part.” Woodworth has joined a growing group of lawyers who are seeking quicker, cheaper ways to get feedback about their cases. With technology already providing much in the way of trial support, it seems only natural that virtual communication has begun filling the mock jury gap.

“Online juries provide two distinct advantages,” said Chris Bagby, founder and president of eJury LLC, based in Arlington, TX. “[They help] you prepare for trial by giving feedback to help you try a better case. Secondly, the Internet provides a convenient opportunity to gather empirical data about a case by putting it in front of people who may never have stepped inside a courtroom.”