FAQ

Whether you choose an online or an in-person mock trial, there are certain benefits to each format. Although an in-person mock trial provides a more realistic environment and allows for increased personal interaction with the jurors, online trials are often more convenient and cost-effective. READ MORE

In a real case, with real lawyers, there are issues that need to be resolved. Someone is facing prison time or has sustained life-altering injuries. Most lawyers hate surprises, especially as a verdict is being read. A law degree doesn’t come with a crystal ball and rarely does a case come with a mulligan. Lawyers want to know what the decision-makers, the jurors, are going to think about the case, or about them before they try the case.

In a mock trial, lawyers can construct the presentation to address the issues that they think may be pivotal to the decision they are seeking. Or they can simply try their case to the jurors. That’s a benefit of a mock trial: The attorneys can structure the mock trial to allow the jury to focus on a small part of the case or on the entire case... READ MORE

Yes, our jury recruiters use the demographics of the trial venue, which are based on the government census data, in order to recruit a diverse panel of jurors. Your team is able to review and approve the panel of jurors before the project takes place.

Legal Mock Trials and Focus Groups hosted by First Court ensure confidentiality across the board. Mock jurors sign a confidentiality agreement before seeing any information about your case and are briefed several times about the significance of this agreement. Additionally, all jurors are screened over the phone for all parties, or the names of the parties in the case are changed for the project.

As a trial attorney, presenting a strong, cohesive case is crucial to achieving a favorable outcome for your client. A theme is a unifying concept or message that ties together the evidence and arguments presented in your case. “Jurors are always going to develop a case story of ‘what happened here.’ Your job as an attorney is to give them the tools to understand, remember, and argue that your explanation of what occurred is the right one”.. the one most favorable to your client. READ MORE

Many defense attorneys may be hesitant to propose a defense number if they believe their client is not liable, or perhaps they are concerned the number could be offensive in comparison to the high number given by Plaintiff’s counsel, or maybe they just don’t know the value of their own case. Whatever reasons defense attorneys have, failure to give a defense number usually ends up as Tyson describes: with the jury awarding “‘nuclear verdicts,’ based on fear and emotion, not evidence or the law.”1  Why are attorney's recommended damage numbers so impactful? Tyson talks about the psychological concepts of priming and of “primacy and recency.”  In their article “Priming the Jury for Success,”  Horres and Stanton define “priming” as a tool “used by counsel during voir dire to help advance their client's cause in unconscious ways.” Plaintiff’s ability to give the number first, as well as early and often, is why defense counsel should almost always employ Tyson’s strategy of “Always Give a Number.” Once the jury becomes “primed by repeatedly hearing the plaintiff’s requested damages number,” they are more likely to return a verdict “close to the plaintiff’s number.”2 Since plaintiffs present first and are accustomed to talking about money in front of the jury, they are able to anchor the jury to their number in voir dire and in opening statements. READ MORE

In 2015, the average verdict in the National Law Journal’s Top 100 Verdicts was a solid $64 million. By 2019, this average had more than tripled to a resounding $214 million.1 Today, nuclear verdicts are more common than ever and are causing defense attorneys to tremble in their boots. Why is this the case? The answer to this question is critical for both defense and plaintiff lawyers, who either want to divert a nuclear verdict or create one.

According to Merrie Jo Pitera & Nick Polavin in their article What Causes “Nuclear Verdicts?" (Part 1), these multi-million dollar verdicts are caused by a combination of tactics by the plaintiff attorney along with certain shifts in mainstream belief. READ MORE

Choosing an online trial provides you with a unique benefit: Savings of time and money. Conducting the project virtually eliminates the need for venue rentals, travel expenses, and other logistical costs associated with in-person trials, making them much more cost-effective and efficient. READ MORE

From the beginning of the case through its resolution, we have helped parties to disputes, litigators, and trial consultants nationwide resolve or win their cases by providing to quality ADR and Trial Consulting services.

Whether your case is seeking resolution or heading to trial, First Court will give your team the advantage they need to succeed!