Jury Consultant: A Lucrative & Satisfying Career Choice for Recent Graduates
As a recent graduate, if you’re looking for a niche career that’s both intellectually stimulating and financially rewarding, then you should consider becoming a Jury Consultant. This is a relatively new profession that involves helping lawyers prepare and present their cases in front of juries. While still a relatively small field, demand for jury consultants has been rapidly growing in recent years.
Career Values, Traits, Skills
Before pursuing a career as a jury consultant, it’s important to understand the values, traits, and skills that make for a successful jury consultant.
- Communication skills: A jury consultant must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing with clients, jury panel members, and the legal team.
- Analytical skills: A jury consultant must be able to analyze large amounts of data, including demographics, juror characteristics, and case details, to help attorneys select the right juries for their cases.
- Creativity: A jury consultant must be able to think creatively to devise innovative strategies for presenting a client’s case to a jury.
- Detail-oriented: A jury consultant must be able to pay attention to the smallest details that may be important in a legal case.
- Ethical: A jury consultant must have high ethical standards, as they are not allowed to tamper with evidence, manipulate juror opinions, or otherwise engage in unethical practices.
Career Path
There is no set path to becoming a jury consultant, but most professionals in this field start by obtaining a degree in psychology, sociology, or communications. It’s also helpful to have a legal background or experience working in the legal industry. After completing their education, aspiring jury consultants may seek out internships or entry-level jobs with law firms or consulting firms. With experience, they may transition to full-time positions as jury consultants.
Salary Range
According to Payscale.com, the median salary for a jury consultant is around $72,000 per year, but experienced professionals can earn upwards of $150,000 per year. Freelance jury consultants can charge significantly more per case or per hour, depending on the complexity of the case.
Tips for Success
Here are some tips for recent graduates who are interested in pursuing a career as a jury consultant:
- Network with legal professionals: Attend legal conferences, events, and meetups to get to know lawyers and other legal professionals. This can help you build a network of contacts that may help you find job opportunities.
- Focus on building your analytical skills: Take classes or pursue opportunities that help you develop your analytical skills, such as data analysis or psychology research.
- Stay up-to-date with legal news and trends: Be sure to stay current with legal news and trends, especially related to jury selection and trial strategy.
- Be willing to start at the bottom: Many jury consultants start out as interns or entry-level assistants. Don’t be afraid to take on these roles to gain experience and build your skills.
References
Here are some resources for aspiring jury consultants:
- National Association of Legal Assistants: This organization provides resources and networking opportunities for legal professionals, including jury consultants.
- American Society of Trial Consultants: This professional organization offers education and training opportunities for those interested in becoming trial consultants.
- "The Jury Expert": This online publication covers news and trends related to jury selection and trial strategy. It’s a great resource for aspiring jury consultants to stay current in the field.
