What is the difference between a focus group and a mock trial?
In a focus group, a TBC consultant presents a brief summary of the case and then engages a small group of jurors (7 to 10) in discussion to discover their reactions and attitudes. A focus group is interactive, informal, and allows for improvisation. It is ideal for discovering important case issues and key problems early in trial preparation. In a mock trial (sometimes called a “trial simulation”), attorneys present both sides of the case in an adversarial, argumentative presentation to a large group of jurors. Jurors follow rules of the court and are not allowed to ask questions of the attorneys or interact with each other during the case presentation. We give a series of questionnaires to jurors throughout the case presentation asking their leaning and soliciting responses to open-ended questions about case themes, evidence, witnesses, and facts. After hearing the case presentation, jurors are divided into groups and deliberate to a verdict. Afterwards, they are debriefed by a TBC co
