Focus Groups, Mock Trials, and Big Data – How, when, and why

Jessica Brylo
Jessica Brylo | Trial Dynamics

Jessica Brylo is the owner and lead litigation consultant at Trial Dynamics, a consulting firm dedicated to plaintiff’s civil and criminal defense litigation. She specializes in case framing, jury research, focus groups, mock trials, big data studies, opening statement development, witness preparation, and jury selection.

On-Demand: September 27, 2024

2 hour CLE

This program is only available to All-Access Pass Members.
Subscribe to Above the Law CLE + myLawCLEs All-Access Pass...
Get this course, plus over 1,000+ live webinars.
Learn More

Program Summary

This talk explores the critical role of various case testing methodologies, including focus groups, mock trials, and big data studies. Jessica Brylo, a national jury consultant, will discuss how these methods provide invaluable insights into juror perceptions, helping you to identify case strengths and weaknesses. The presentation will cover pitfalls commonly seen when attorneys conduct their own focus groups, best practices for designing effective focus groups and mock trials, and interpreting results.

We will also examine the comparative strengths and limitations of big data studies compared to traditional focus groups and mock trials. We’ll explore how big data analytics can provide broad insights into win rates, likely verdict outcomes, and juror profiles.

How can you leverage the strengths of focus groups/mock trials and big data? Which one best fits the case? Where is your money best spent and why? The talk will highlight scenarios where each approach excels and discuss how to integrate both for comprehensive case analysis. Attorneys will learn to make informed decisions about which testing methods best suit their specific case needs.

Key topics to be discussed:

  • Comparison of focus groups, mock trials, and big data studies
  • Interpretation of results from jury research testing
  • Determining which testing methodology is best for various scenarios
  • Tips on conducting your own focus groups

Closed-captioning available

Speakers

Jessica Brylo_myLawCLEJessica Brylo | Trial Dynamics

Jessica Brylo is the owner and lead litigation consultant at Trial Dynamics, a consulting firm dedicated to plaintiff’s civil and criminal defense litigation. She specializes in case framing, jury research, focus groups, mock trials, big data studies, opening statement development, witness preparation, and jury selection.

Over the past two decades, Ms. Brylo has spoken to thousands of jurors and conducted hundreds of mock trials, the results of which she uses to guide case strategy and framing on cases ranging from soft tissue injuries to 9-figure catastrophic injury cases and multi-billion dollar class-action lawsuits.

Ms. Brylo originally trained with one of the nation’s leading trial consultants, David Ball, Ph.D., and is one of a handful in the nation who has studied Arizona Project (1996) videos of real juries deliberating. She has a JD and Masters in Psychology, both from Duke University, and is a past board member of the American Society of Trial Consultants (ASTC).

Agenda

I. Comparison of focus groups, mock trials, and big data studies | 11:00am – 11:30am

II. Interpretation of results from jury research testing | 11:30am – 12:00pm

Break | 12:00pm – 12:10pm

III. Determining which testing methodology is best for various scenarios | 12:10pm –12:40pm

IV. Tips on conducting your own focus groups | 12:40pm – 1:10pm

More CLE Webinars
Upcoming CLE Webinars
Diagnosing and Proving Traumatic Brain Injuries and PTSD
Diagnosing and Proving Traumatic Brain Injuries and PTSD Thu, August 14, 2025
On-Demand
Live Replay
Microsoft Excel for Lawyers (2025 Edition)
Microsoft Excel for Lawyers (2025 Edition) Fri, August 15, 2025
Live Webcast
Sketching Legacies: A guide to drafting wills and trusts
Sketching Legacies: A guide to drafting wills and trusts Fri, August 22, 2025
On-Demand
Live Replay