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SERVICES

• Case Themes and Arguments
  Research on decision-making tells us that jurors judge a case by trying to figure out the story behind the conflicting and fragmented testimony they hear at trial. The motivations of the people involved, and their frailties and strengths, inevitably play a role in these stories. Using mock jury research and our decades of experience, we can help you tell a compelling story structured around strong, memorable themes.
  
  
• Mock Jury Research
  
  Focus Groups are useful for understanding local attitudes about the big issues in a case. Focus groups are led by an experienced facilitator who engages the group in an in-depth discussion of relevant topics.

Trial Simulations capture the essentials of a case – from the perspective of plaintiffs and defendants – and present them to mock jurors. The chance to condense your case, to present your most compelling evidence and to try out your graphics for immediate reaction is well worth the effort. Watching people as they argue the strengths of your case and examine its weaknesses can be a real milestone on the road towards the right trial strategy. Trial simulations also help you and your client weigh the pros and cons of settlement.

• Witness Preparation
  Each witness creates an impression, and the quality of that impression can have a powerful effect on jurors. Sometimes it is not what the witness says, but how it is said that makes the difference. Good communication is a skill that witnesses can learn. We build confidence and give witnesses the tools to successfully engage the jurors.

An expert witness can be critical to a jury's decision or may be tossed aside as just another paid advocate. Much depends on how clearly the expert communicates and on his or her ability to connect with the jurors. Even a seasoned expert can benefit from our witness preparation sessions.

• Courtroom Graphics
  Strong visuals help jurors to grasp the key issues more quickly and to retain the information more successfully than verbal testimony by itself. Crafting and designing visual aids to sharpen the impact of case themes and testimony can have a major effect on trial outcomes.
  
  We help you decide which areas of your case would benefit from the addition of graphics. Then we work closely with the trial team and your graphics firm so you get the best possible result – graphics that assist jurors in remembering and supporting your case. If you do not have a graphics firm yet, we can refer you to experienced and creative firms.

• Community Attitude Survey
  When you need a better understanding of community opinion about the issues in your case, a community attitude survey may be the answer. Whether the concern is extensive pretrial publicity, a high profile client, or controversial issues, a survey can shed some light on just how people are thinking and what strategy you might pursue to solve the problems.

• Jury Selection
  Attorneys who enjoy jury selection are rare. We can't promise jury selection will be fun, but we can ease the burden with careful planning, organization and analysis.
  
  We prepare a jury selection strategy – what attitudes, experiences and personality characteristics among jurors will be good for your client and what will be problematic. We design juror questionnaires, prepare oral voir dire, and give you the tools to argue for more expansive voir dire and optimal selection procedures. Our training sessions give you the chance to try out new approaches and to improve your questioning skills.
  
  In court, we help you make those tough calls – Who will lead the jury? Who can understand the complexities? Who is closed – minded and dangerous to your case? Our evaluations of prospective jurors and our recommendations about peremptory challenges give you an expert perspective as you make those all important decisions.
  

• Venue Evaluation
  Are you wondering where to file a case, or whether a change of venue is warranted? We research specific questions you have about the characteristics of alternative venues. We also have extensive experience designing, conducting and analyzing surveys which provide detailed comparative information about jurisdictions and their suitability for your case. We can locate testifying experts for a venue hearing and assist you with preparation for the hearing.
  
  
• Post-Trial Interviews
  When your trial is over, find out what worked and what to do better next time. We interview jurors to learn what they did and why – to discover how they arrived at a verdict, which documents and witnesses were most effective, and how they reasoned about the case.