Mock Juries – Look Before You Leap
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Mock Juries – Look Before You Leap
Knowing which arguments will resonate and which ones fall flat will ensure that your team is prepared to tell your client’s story at trial.
There’s an old adage that says, “look before you leap.” We often follow this advice in our ordinary day-to-day lives. Sometimes, we employ a practical application of the adage, such as looking both ways before crossing the street. Other times, it’s used in a strategic manner, such as obtaining knowledge and exercising forethought when making an important decision. These same concepts can be applied when preparing to try a case in front of a jury.
You want to be certain of where you’re going to land before you jump into the unknown, and you should take advantage of every opportunity to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your case. Knowing which arguments will resonate and which ones fall flat will ensure that your team is prepared to effectively tell your client’s story at trial. Mock juries provide attorneys the opportunity to test and evaluate their arguments, refine their visual strategy, and understand their opponent’s weaknesses before they step into the courtroom.
It's well known that the strength of your case relies on several factors—evidence, the soundness of your client’s narrative, and the credibility of your witnesses. The analysis of a mock jury’s deliberations often provides insights into what parts of your story makes sense to them and which parts need clarification. Through a mock jury exercise, the attorney can discover how to best communicate specific facts and evidence to the jury.
We know that jurors want to do the right thing and arrive at a just verdict. The challenge is presenting the evidence they need in a way they can understand and articulate in the jury room. Through mock juries, you can confidently enter the courtroom knowing your argument and visual strategy has been battle-tested. This extra, but crucial, step can give your team a significant advantage over the other side—and best prepares you to successfully represent your client on their day in court.
ROB LEGASPI
Director of Trial Services, Pennebaker Inc.
As the Director of Trial Services for Pennebaker Legal, Robert manages all aspects of trial presentation, courtroom, and litigation graphics support for the firm. He has managed and provided courtroom support for hundreds of trials, arbitrations, hearings, and mediations. Robert has supported a range of complex civil matters such as construction, energy litigation, contract disputes, insurance matters, and toxic tort cases. He has also worked in-house at a major law firm providing courtroom and graphics support for over 300 attorneys across six offices. Robert’s experience and technical expertise in the courtroom has assisted trial teams in high-stakes, “bet the company” litigation obtain defense verdicts and multi-million dollar judgments in venues across the country.
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