KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Jury consultants use research and communication methods to support attorneys before and during trial.
- No single degree, certification or federal license universally controls entry into the profession.
- Consultants advise; attorneys and courts retain legal authority over jury selection.
A jury consultant, also called a trial or litigation consultant, helps legal teams study audience reactions and prepare case communication. Services may include mock trials, focus groups, venue surveys, voir dire planning, juror questionnaires, public-record research, witness preparation and trial monitoring.
What is a jury consultant?
Jury consulting is an interdisciplinary profession rather than a regulated branch of psychology. The American Society of Trial Consultants describes members with backgrounds in psychology, communication, sociology, law, theater, design and other fields.
The work is broader than selecting jurors. A consultant might test whether an opening statement is understandable, examine how mock participants organize a complex timeline, identify unanswered questions, prepare a witness to communicate clearly or study community attitudes relevant to a venue question.
Research can reveal patterns in a particular sample. It cannot prove how the seated jury will decide. Responsible consultants explain sampling limits, alternative interpretations and the difference between observed data and strategic judgment.
What does a jury consultant do?
- Case analysis: identify difficult concepts, competing narratives and communication risks in the case materials provided by counsel.
- Mock trials and focus groups: recruit participants, present controlled materials, observe discussion and analyze responses.
- Venue or community surveys: design and analyze surveys when community exposure or attitudes are relevant to a legal question.
- Voir dire support: help counsel develop questions, organize information and consider case-related sources of bias.
- Witness preparation: support clear, accurate communication without scripting false testimony or changing substantive evidence.
- Trial observation: track comprehension, presentation issues and juror reactions within court rules.
ASTC's professional code says a trial consultant does not practice law while acting as a consultant. Attorneys remain responsible for legal strategy, challenges and compliance with the court's rules.
What is the consultant's role in jury selection?
Federal courts describe voir dire as the process in which the judge and attorneys question prospective jurors before selection. Court procedure varies: a judge may control questioning, permit attorney questions or use written questionnaires.
A consultant can help organize relevant information and advise counsel, but does not “pick” the jury independently. ASTC's jury-selection guidelines place ultimate responsibility for challenges with the attorney and require attention to the law and local court rules.
Background research also has boundaries. A consultant should avoid any communication with prospective or sitting jurors, including contact caused by online research. Local rules may restrict what can be collected or used. Demographic stereotypes are not a substitute for case-specific information, and unlawful discriminatory selection remains prohibited.
How do mock juries and trial research work?
A defensible project begins with a specific question. The consultant then decides who should participate, what materials they will see, how information will be presented, what responses will be recorded and how the results will be analyzed.
| Method | Useful for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Focus group | Language, themes, questions and early reactions | Small discussion groups are exploratory |
| Mock trial | Case presentation, deliberation themes and evidence comprehension | Cannot reproduce the actual trial or jury |
| Community survey | Awareness, exposure or attitudes in a defined population | Sampling and question wording can alter results |
| Post-trial interview | Feedback where law and court rules permit contact | Memory, self-report and legal restrictions apply |
Quality depends on neutral recruitment, documented procedures, realistic materials, careful facilitation and transparent analysis. A polished chart does not repair a biased sample or leading question. For broader research preparation, see our guide to forensic psychology research methods and topics.
How do you become a jury consultant?
ASTC states that no specific education or certification is universally required. That openness is real, but it does not mean training is optional. Clients need evidence that the consultant can perform the particular service competently.
- Choose a service area. Research design, qualitative analysis, statistics, communication, witness preparation, graphics and courtroom technology require different preparation.
- Build a relevant academic base. Psychology, sociology, communication, political science, statistics, law and related graduate study can be useful. Advanced research roles may favor a master's or doctorate.
- Learn legal procedure. Study trial stages, evidence presentation, voir dire, local court rules and the boundary between consulting and legal advice.
- Gain supervised experience. University research labs, litigation-consulting firms, legal organizations and structured internships can develop applied skills.
- Create defensible work samples. Show research plans, anonymized analyses or communication products without exposing client information.
- Use professional standards. ASTC's code provides a concrete framework for competence, integrity, conflicts, confidentiality and research conduct.
A forensic psychology degree can support behavioral research, but it does not guarantee employment or make someone a licensed psychologist. Compare related routes in the forensic psychology career map.
Which skills matter most?
Strong consultants combine research discipline with clear communication. Useful skills include survey design, interviewing, qualitative coding, statistics, data visualization, writing, facilitation, presentation analysis and project management.
Legal teamwork also matters. Consultants must ask what decision the work is meant to support, distinguish client advocacy from data integrity, document limitations and communicate uncertainty without becoming vague.
Confidence is a poor substitute for validity. A consultant should be willing to say that a sample is too small, a comparison is weak or the data do not support a requested conclusion. That boundary protects both the legal team and the credibility of the profession.
Jury consultant salary: what evidence exists?
No Bureau of Labor Statistics category isolates jury consultants. The field includes salaried researchers, employees of consulting firms, experienced specialists and self-employed consultants, so a single national salary figure would create false precision.
Adjacent occupations provide context only. O*NET reports a 2025 median of $61,990 for social science research assistants. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $78,760 for market research analysts, whose work can include surveys and data analysis. Neither figure is a jury-consultant salary.
Compensation can depend on education, methodology, firm size, location, client base, travel, case complexity, billable utilization and whether work is salaried or project-based. Evaluate current job postings and transparent employment terms instead of repeating unsourced fee claims.
Jury consultant vs forensic psychologist
| Question | Jury consultant | Forensic psychologist |
|---|---|---|
| Primary work | Trial research, communication and litigation support | Psychological services connected with legal questions |
| Entry standard | No single national degree or license for the title | Psychologist title and independent practice are state-regulated |
| Typical evidence | Mock-participant responses, surveys and communication analysis | Interviews, records, testing and psychological research |
| Legal authority | Advises counsel; does not exercise attorney or court authority | Offers qualified psychological work; does not decide the legal issue |
A psychologist may also work as a trial consultant, but must clarify which role is being performed. The consultant label does not automatically make an opinion psychological expert testimony. Our expert-witness psychologist guide explains that separate function.
This article provides general U.S.-focused education. It does not establish eligibility for employment, psychology practice, expert status or a particular court activity. Current law, local rules, employer requirements and professional scope control.
Common questions about jury consulting
What does a jury consultant do?
A jury consultant helps attorneys study how potential audiences may understand a case. Services can include mock trials, focus groups, venue surveys, voir dire strategy, juror questionnaires, public-record research, witness preparation and communication testing. The attorney and court retain legal authority over jury selection.
What degree do you need to become a jury consultant?
There is no single nationally required degree or government license for the title. Consultants come from psychology, communication, sociology, law, research and other backgrounds. Employers and clients judge whether a person's education, research skills, legal knowledge and experience fit the service offered.
Is a jury consultant a psychologist?
Not necessarily. Some jury consultants are psychologists, but the consultant title alone does not authorize psychology practice or use of the psychologist title. A person offering regulated psychological services must separately meet the relevant state requirements.
How much do jury consultants make?
No federal wage category isolates jury consultants, and project-based consulting income can vary widely. BLS and O*NET figures for adjacent research occupations are useful only as comparison points, not as jury-consultant salary estimates.
Do jury consultants choose jurors?
No. Consultants may analyze information and advise trial counsel, but attorneys exercise challenges subject to the judge, governing law and local rules. ASTC guidance states that ultimate responsibility for juror challenges rests with the attorney.
Can jury consultants contact prospective jurors?
Direct or indirect contact can create serious ethical and legal problems. ASTC guidance says consultants should avoid communication with summoned or sitting jurors and follow jurisdiction-specific rules for any background or social-media research.
Are mock juries accurate predictors of a verdict?
They are research tools, not verdict forecasts. Results depend on recruitment, sample size, materials, facilitation and analysis. A mock group cannot reproduce the exact jurors, evidence, rulings, deliberation or courtroom dynamics of a real trial.
Is jury consulting part of forensic psychology?
It can draw on psychology and law, especially research on decision-making, persuasion and group behavior. However, trial consulting is interdisciplinary and is not the same as licensed forensic psychology practice.
Sources
Professional trial-consulting standards, federal court information and adjacent federal occupation data were reviewed on September 20, 2026.
- American Society of Trial Consultants. About Trial Consulting.
Describes the profession's interdisciplinary backgrounds and service areas, including mock trials, venue studies, jury selection, witness preparation and trial strategy.
- American Society of Trial Consultants. Professional Code.
Provides ethical principles, professional standards and practice guidelines for trial consulting, including competence and jury-selection boundaries.
- American Society of Trial Consultants. Join ASTC: Profession FAQ.
States that no specific education or certification is universally required and lists common trial-consulting services.
- Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Juror Selection Process.
Explains federal jury pools, qualification and voir dire. Procedures and attorney participation can differ by court.
- O*NET OnLine. Social Science Research Assistants.
Provides an adjacent federal occupation for research tasks and preparation. It is not a jury-consultant occupation or salary category.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Market Research Analysts.
Provides a second adjacent benchmark for survey, data-analysis and presentation skills. Its pay and outlook do not represent jury-consultant earnings.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hassam Shabbir
Hassam Shabbir is a New York-licensed psychologist and forensic psychology writer. Full license details are withheld from public display for privacy and security; legitimate professional verification requests may be submitted through the contact page.
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