Trial Techs Are Not Jury Consultants. But They Should Still Study the Jury.
Trial techs are not hired to be jury consultants. We are not building venire profiles, running data models, or writing social science reports. But we are in a seat that no one else on the trial team occupies. We sit directly in front of the jury every moment that court is in session. We see every reaction. We feel the shifts in attention. We notice the quiet moments that signal confusion. We see the raised eyebrows, the nods, and the moments when the courtroom energy changes.
Because of that vantage point, trial techs should study the jury. Not as jury consultants. As professionals who are present in the room every single day and owe their clients more than blind guesswork.
You Do Not Need a Degree. You Need a Method.
You do not need a doctorate in behavioral science to offer observations that help the trial team. But if you are going to give feedback, it should be grounded in some level of method. An educated hunch is still a hunch, but it is far more valuable than an unexamined impulse.
A method can be simple. For example:
- Track which jurors react to visual evidence versus testimony
- Note attention dips during specific witnesses or themes
- Watch for patterns in body language when certain issues arise
- Observe which jurors take more notes and when
- Pay attention to the physical layout of the jury box and where sightlines are best or worst
Even basic consistency in observation gives structure to your feedback and helps you become a trustworthy source of insight, rather than a spectator with a guess.
Ask for Context So Your Observations Are Meaningful.
If the trial team has run a focus group or mock trial, ask for permission to review the report. Do not assume you will get every detail, and do not step outside your lane. But if the team is comfortable sharing the report, it can make your observations much sharper.
Understanding the ideal juror profile, the weak points in the case, and the themes that matter most gives you a better lens for what you should be watching in the jury box. It turns simple observation into thoughtful analysis.
Why This Matters
Different trial techs will naturally lean toward different approaches. Some think in a more qualitative way. They keep mental notes about juror body language, moments when the room goes quiet, and which exhibits seem to land. Others gravitate toward a more quantitative style. They might keep a simple grid, mark juror reactions, and look for patterns over the course of the trial.
Both approaches can work. The point is not whether your tool is a notebook, a grid, or a strong memory. The point is that, regardless of the method, there are certain truths we see over and over from the front of the courtroom.
We know these truths to be self evident:
- Jurors respond to clarity. They stay with a story that is organized and easy to follow.
- Jurors respond to authenticity. They can feel when a witness or lawyer is comfortable in their own skin.
- Jurors respond to visuals that reinforce the story instead of interrupting it.
- Jurors respond to pacing. They drift when arguments drag and lean in when the energy is right.
- Jurors show you when they are confused, interested, or bored if you are disciplined enough to watch.
Trial teams are juggling dozens of pieces of the case at once. Your eyes can help them understand how the jury is receiving it. You are already sitting in the chair. You are already watching the jury. The question is whether you will treat that seat as a passive one or as a position of responsibility.
Trial techs are not jury consultants. But they can be powerful observers. And when they approach that role with intention, discipline, and humility, they become a real asset to the team.
