Why do a mock trial?
Early case assessment has become a standard practice in high stakes litigation. Mock trials and focus groups are useful and reliable, especially when compared to the alternative, which is to guess at what a jury will do with your case. Though no one knows what any one particular jury will do, there is no better way to find out how a public jury is likely to respond than to see how private juries make their decisions.
How do you find jurors for focus groups and mock trials?
We randomly select jurors from the potential venire by using a screening instrument approved by the client. We do not ever use a juror more than once, and we do not rely on professional focus group participants for recruitment. It is important that your jury be a realistic one, one that you are likely to confront at the time of trial.
If we want a mock trial,
does it have to be held in Birmingham, Alabama?
No, we can hold mock trials or focus groups any place in the country. Particularly, when it comes to small rural communities, it is important to hold the mock trial in another community which “matches” the demographic profile of the venire where the trial will be held.
What are the benefits of using the electronic polling system?
The “polling” system is important for providing real time responses to the arguments made by attorneys, testimony offered by witnesses, and key arguments that need to be measured separately. This system is attractive, in that it is clear, in color, and clients can watch results while they are watching the mock jury. We also furnish the statistical analysis generated by the polling system as part of our final report.
Do you charge extra for the electronic polling system?
No, clients are free to have us use the system or not.
How expensive is your service?
Costs vary based upon where the trial is held, how many jurors are recruited, how elaborate our mock jury design is and so on. We work with clients in developing a budget which does not assume that there are unlimited financial resources available. Previous clients have told us that our fees are typically about 50 percent of what other firms charge.
Do you specialize in plaintiff or defense work?
Voir Dire, Inc. is an independent firm which does not specialize in either plaintiff or defense work. We believe all of our clients benefit from our knowing and understanding all aspects of civil litigation. This experience allows us to raise perspectives that would otherwise not be raised.
What kind of experience do you have in this work?
Natalie Davis and Rebecca Watson combine over twenty-five years of experience in juror research. Davis is a Ph.D. in Political Science, who specializes in small group research and survey analysis. She brings real expertise to understanding and interpretation of how jurors respond in particular cases. Watson, who is responsible for juror recruitment, has conducted focus groups and mock trials throughout the nation. Using screening instruments which she has developed, clients can be confident in the quality of research findings they receive, because the jurors who are being studied truly mirror the juries that are likely to be struck.
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