A Web site offering mock juries where lawyers can test their cases is now online and preparing for a formal launch in January. Called TrialJuries, the site will allow lawyers to submit their cases and have them “decided” by online jurors similar to those who would serve on an actual jury at trial. From the site’s front page:
“The benefits of a mock-jury are well known: use a focus group process to see how real people respond to your case. Use the results to better prepare for trial, evaluate a case for settlement and more realistically assess the strengths and weaknesses of your case before moving forward.
“Traditional mock juries are prohibitively complex and expensive for all but the rarest of cases. No longer! TrialJuries makes this valuable tool available to regular lawyers with regular cases.”
To use the site, a lawyer submits a written statement of each side’s case. Alternatively, the lawyer may submit an audio or video argument. Exhibits may also be added. Finally, the lawyer submits up to five verdict and five feedback questions using an automated “form builder” and then sends the case to the jury. Mock jurors review the submissions and answer the verdict and feedback questions. When their review is done, the lawyer receives their verdict and can review their comments and feedback.
A demo is available at the site. Hint: Be sure to check out the video submissions in the demo case of Chunky v. Creamy. The cost to submit a case using text only is $1,500. For audio, the cost is $2,000, and for video it is $2,500.
The new service is the creation of two lawyers, Lee Glickenhaus, a former litigator and founder of the litigation extranet company T Lex, and Jack E. (Bobby) Truitt, founder of the Louisiana defense firm The Truitt Law Firm.