The role of a trial consultant was first brought to public attention during the trial of O.J. Simpson in 1995. Before this, lawyers rarely engaged trial consultants. But, what exactly is a trial consultant? A lot of time, effort, and preparation goes into a trial. Attorneys spend days and sometimes, even months preparing their case in the hope that the verdict is in their favor. Lawyers do not work alone, preparing for a case. Instead, they work with a team of experts to prepare the best case they can from the evidence and information they have. One such expert is a trial consultant. Who is a trial consultant? A trial consultant can be considered to be a "social scientist." They may specialize in different fields and help lawyers with different aspects of a trial. Many court cases, nowadays, get settled even before going to trial. This has led to some trial consultants also offering arbitration sessions or mediation services. Most people believe that trial consultants are experts in psychology. However, that is not the only field that they specialize in. They may specialize in numerous fields, such as law enforcement, law, forensics, anthropology, and so much more. Regardless of the area that they specialize in, a trial consultant in US, also known as a jury consultant, is tasked with using their expertise to help lawyers prepare their best case. What do they do? The key role of a trial consultant is to help lawyers engaging their services to prepare a strong case. Many lawyers hire consultants to get input on how best to approach a case. For instance, a defense attorney handling a murder case could hire a trial consultant with a background in psychology. The consultant could help the lawyer put together a questionnaire that could identify potential jurors who would be the most sympathetic to the case. A trial consultant specializing in sociology could help organize and conduct focus groups to gauge public opinion about the case. Some trial consultants specialize in areas not related to jury selection. For example, a trial consultant who is an expert in IT could help a lawyer put together a slideshow that summarizes the evidence collected against the defendant. If there is a child witness, a trial consultant specializing in child psychology could offer insights on how to handle the same. The most important duty of a trial consultant is to help prepare the attorney, as well as the witnesses for the trial. Sometimes, they may even help the accused prepare for the trial. Preparing witnesses involves arranging mock trials so that people can experience firsthand what it feels like to take the stand. A trial consultant who is also an expert in communications can use their skills to prepare strong oral arguments. Attorneys may even take their help in preparing opening and closing arguments in a trial. They can also help attorneys identify ways to present complex evidence in the most effective manner. Why do you need them? Trial consultants are experts in trial strategy. Experienced trial consultants understand social dynamics well and know how to present compelling, cohesive, and effective presentations to juries. Their main goal is to ensure that the lawyer presents the case in a way that makes the jury advocate for the client in the deliberation room. A trial consultant adds both depth and breadth to the experience of the trial team. They specialize in a diverse set of skills that complement the skills of attorneys and paralegals. It puts the team in a strong position to achieve a favorable verdict. They also offer their valuable services in preparing witnesses for the trial. Thanks to them, witnesses feel more confident taking the stand, speak more clearly, and are more comfortable in their role. Being well-prepared ensures that the message delivered is clear and well-defined. Juries also benefit when lawyers engage the help of trial consultants. Some cases can be incredibly complex. However, when the message is delivered in a simple and coherent manner, juries are able to make sense of it, resulting in an informed decision about the case. All trial consultants prepare and research for cases, although in different ways. However, the common element is that experienced trial consultants can synthesize the information collected in the research process. This helps the trial team formulate an effective trial strategy. If you need help to prepare for a trial, engaging a Jury consulting firm could prove useful. Focus Litigation Consulting uses mock trials, surveys, focus groups, and other trial consulting tools to help lawyers avoid misjudgment and critical errors in jury selection and the trial process.
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