Trial consultants are attorneys who assist in jury selection in civil and criminal cases. Organizing testimony, designing questions, obtaining shadow jurors to observe trials and provide feedback, witness preparation, and working with focus groups to gather information that may be relevant to an upcoming trial are all possible tasks. Trial consultants are not legal experts; rather, they are experts in predicting and understanding human behavior, which makes them useful as jury selectors. To work as a trial consultant, you’ll typically need a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree.
A college diploma and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree are required to work as a trial consultant. Trial consultants must be knowledgeable about human behavior because their work involves jury selection. As a result, majors like psychology, political science, criminology, and sociology are extremely important because they help students better understand human behavior.
No specific certificate is required to work as a trial consultant after earning a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. If you want to work as a trial consultant, there is an American Society of Trial Consultants (ASTC) that provides trial consulting information, an annual conference, opportunities for career networking, and opportunities for professional growth. Professional trial consultants are not the only ones who can join the ASTC. Students who want to work as trial consultants after finishing their education can join the organization.
It helps to have good research skills, good communication skills, and good interpersonal skills if you want to work as a trial consultant. Trial consultants must frequently rely on statistics and published studies to inform their jury selections, so research is an important part of their job. Trial consultants must also present their findings and recommendations to attorneys in a clear and concise manner, both verbally and in writing.
Typically, trial consultants work with law firms of all sizes. Being a trial consultant can be exciting work if you are interested in human behavior; however, it is important to note that this type of work is very stressful and demanding. Depending on the needs of the law firms, travel and flexible scheduling may be required. A career as a trial consultant may be an option if you want to work with lawyers, understand and predict human behavior, and have a flexible schedule.