TRIAL DYNAMICS
Big Data in Jury Consulting: Transforming Case Strategy
What if you could predict your chances of winning a case, estimate the percentage of fault attributed to your client, or forecast the likely verdict? In today’s legal landscape, harnessing the power of big data is one of the most effective ways to gain a strategic advantage at trial or mediation. By combining vast datasets with advanced analytics, big data studies enable you to anticipate trial outcomes, understand juror profiles, and make data-driven decisions to optimize your case strategy.
What Big Data Offers
Big data provides unparalleled insights into factors that can influence a case. By analyzing large volumes of information, big data allows you to:
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Identify potential biases based on demographic or attitudinal factors.
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Predict case value and win rates with statistical accuracy.
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Gauge prevailing attitudes toward specific legal issues.
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Develop juror profiles for crafting tailored strategies in voir dire.
At Trial Dynamics, we are proud to partner with Campbell Law LLC, a leader in big data analysis, to deliver reliable data combined with actionable insights and implementation strategies tailored to your case.
What is Big Data, and Why is it Useful?
Big data refers to large-scale data collection and analysis designed to identify trends and predict outcomes. Corporations use it to anticipate consumer behavior, and now these methodologies are being applied to trial strategy.
Through big data studies, we test your case with hundreds of mock jurors to determine your best, worst, and average day in court. For example, we can simulate outcomes based on varying damages requests:
Damages Ask | Win Rate | Average Verdict |
|---|---|---|
$10 million | 75% | $5.5 million |
$40 million | 78% | $30 million |
$75 million | 60% | $35 million |
In this scenario, requesting $40 million yields the best result—a high win rate and substantial verdict—demonstrating how big data can inform optimal case strategies. The highest request of $75 million drops the win rate significantly while yielding only slightly higher damages. Without this information, you may go into trial asking for too little, thereby forfeiting tens of millions of dollars, or ask for too much and lose the trial.
Juror Profiling Through Data
Big data also provides detailed juror profiles by analyzing responses to extensive intake questionnaires. These insights go beyond surface-level observations to identify traits correlated with specific outcomes. For instance:
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NFL fans might be 47% less likely to find in your favor.
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Regular viewers of Jeopardy! may be 35% more inclined to award large damages.
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Those who have been victims of a crime may be 117% more likely to find in your favor.
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Those who have suffered similar injuries may be 79% lower on their damage awards.
Additionally, we can incorporate anticipated voir dire questions into the study to test which questions best predict liability or damages outcomes, giving you a roadmap for jury selection.
How is Big Data Different from Focus Groups or Mock Trials?
While focus groups and mock trials are valuable for case framing and understanding juror thought processes, they are not as reliable for predicting outcomes. Big data studies, on the other hand, excel at outcome prediction, case valuation, and juror profiling, but are less useful for case framing.
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Focus Groups/Mock Trials: Ideal for testing case narratives, understanding juror arguments, and observing group dynamics.
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Big Data Studies: Best for precise outcome prediction, determining the “sweet spot” damages ask, pre-mediation case valuation, and identifying predictive juror traits.
Both tools have distinct advantages, and combining them with expert consulting ensures a well-rounded trial strategy.
Why Partner with a Consultant for Big Data Studies?
While Campbell Law LLC provides technical expertise in data gathering and analysis, having a consultant invested in the study and implementing findings is crucial. At Trial Dynamics, we partner with Campbell Law to offer seamless support, from preparing scripts and exhibits for data studies to integrating findings into your case strategy.
Our process includes:
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Adding tailored voir dire questions to test their predictive power for liability and damages outcomes.
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Editing case presentations and exhibits before submission to Campbell Law.
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Translating Campbell Law’s comprehensive data report into actionable strategies for opening statements, voir dire, and trial presentation.
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Providing ongoing support, including jury selection, focus groups, mock trials, witness preparation, case framing, and opening statement development to ensure every insight is fully implemented.
While big data will provide juror profiling, deciding what weight to give a juror’s “score” compared to what they say in open court is an art. Data is just that – data – but the implementation of the data is much more nuanced. We understand and listen to the data, but also recognize the need to listen to jurors and make strategic decisions during jury selection that is not accounted for in the data results.
Further, if your case requires both mock trials and big data studies, involving us early allows for streamlined coordination and a consistent strategy from start to finish.
Bridging Data and Success
With big data studies powered by Campbell Law LLC and our tailored consulting, we offer a sophisticated, data-informed approach to jury consulting. By bridging raw data insights with practical trial strategies, we help you make confident, informed decisions that maximize your chances of success—whether at trial or mediation.
