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IDEA GENERATING PANEL

This panel, 9-12 members, is best suited for use prior to discovery. The complaint is read to this panel and opinions elicited. The two or three main issues of the case are then introduced in more detail.

This panel is also appropriate to "test the waters" for the perceived impact strength of demonstrative evidence, photos, smoking-gun memos, specific contract language, day-in-the life videos, and expert deposition, as well as to get a feel for which party the jurors are pulling for.

This group is primarily designed to provide the springboard for other research. Each group's discussions are transcribed for further analysis.

USES:
-identify what jurors want to know
-attitudes and impressions of the parties and attorneys
-identify case problem areas
-case valuation
-opening statement evaluation


SURVEYS
Surveys and opinion polls have become part of high-stakes litigation.

Venue surveys center on conducting opinion polls in the trial jurisdiction. Jury-qualified residents are interviewed (usually by telephone) concerning their perceptions of relevant parties, opinions, decision preferences, and background characteristics.

What Can Juror Surveys Do?
- Opinions and values
- Potential Themes
- Perceptions of the Parties
- Juror profiles
- Voir dire development


CHANGE OF VENUE
Community attitude surveys are an extremely useful tool for developing case presentation strategies. The more you know about your audience, the more effectively you can tailor your presentation.

At LSS we can design and conduct attitude surveys that identify prevailing beliefs and prejudices relevant to your case. Knowing where potential jurors stand on key issues is helpful for developing trial strategy.

Our researcher conducts attitude surveys and content analyses with the highest methodological rigor. We can help you determine whether you client can get a fair trial in the current venue.

VOIR DIRE QUESTIONS & DEVELOPMENT
Your expertise, whether you have practiced for days or decades, will be immediately enhanced in the planning and conducting jury selection. Our recommendations and specifically formatted questions will assist you in selecting jurors ideally suited for your case. You will learn how to detect jurors' true and unspoken attitudes about case issues. LSS test and recommends questions developed around pivotal points consistent with predesigned trial themes. With finely tailored questions, the consultant assists you from the start by identifying those jurors already committed to any particular viewpoint.

WITNESS EFFECTIVENESS TRAINING
Trial attorneys know the importance of a prepared witness. How the witness testifies rather than what the witness testifies to is of paramount importance as shown by verbal, paralinguistic and nonverbal communication.

A witness meets with a staff psychologist prior to deposition or trial. During the consultation process, the witness is trained to tell the truth effectively and consistent with the theme of the case, to handle vigorous cross-examination, and to be comfortable in the courtroom milieu. Above all, the witness is trained to communicate clearly, confidently and with conviction by using key words and phrases. Sophisticated psychological techniques, such as progressive relaxation, coaching, modeling, shaping, rehearsing, and hypnosis are used to assist with the training.

ISSUE RESOLUTION PANEL
This service is best just before trial where we test the case theme and refine it. This service is adversarial and is presented by the attorney in the case. After hearing the case, jurors complete questionaires. Representative jury instructions are presented to the group and reaction elicited. Jurors then deliberate to verdict and discussions are transcribed for later analysis. This process is usually repeated three times for the average case.

ISSUE DRIVEN ASSESSMENT GROUP
This group is lead by the facilitator in a non-adversarial and neutral fashion. Case facts are presented in a systematic stair-step manner. Jurors complete predetermined questionnaires to record their responses. The goal is to flesh out possible case themes by identifying juror attitudes, biases and which party has the stronger fact plattern and why.

Case themes begin to emerge as the following are identified and evaluated:
- Fundamental Attributional Error
- Heuristics
- Counterfactual thinking
- Hindsight bias


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