What Is a Mock Jury and How Does It Work?

Are you looking for ways to make money online? Consider being an online mock juror.

It’s understandable to think that all online juror jobs are scams, but this isn’t true. There are legitimate companies that pay online jurors so that you can make money this way.

You can choose your hours and which cases you want to respond to. One thing to keep in mind is having the time required to read the cases properly before your participation.

I’ve put together a list of five legitimate websites to find mock juror jobs.

Keep reading to learn:

• What is a mock jury
• How to become a mock juror
• How to make money as a mock juror
• What are the requirements for being a mock juror?
• Five companies that will pay you to be a mock juror

What Is a Mock Jury?

A mock jury is the potential reactions of “jurors” to evidence and arguments before a case goes to trial.

A mock jury typically consists of 12 “mock jurors” who come together in person to hear the summary presentations of both sides of a case. Once presented, the mock jurors discuss the evidence and the arguments. Lawyers generally observe the group discussion from behind a one-way mirror or via remote video transmission.

A typical in-person mock jury lasts four hours.

How to Become a Mock Juror

Becoming a mock juror is an easy task. Here’s what you can do to become one:

• Choose a website (I’ll tell you about these) that maintains a fair balance between the number of cases available and the amount you’re paid for each case you adjudicate. Make sure to understand the terms and conditions before signing.
• When signing up, a mock-jury website will ask for your personal information such as a home address, contact information, and the bank information required to pay you when you respond to a case. You will also be asked for your email address so you can receive notifications about upcoming cases.

How Do You Make Money as a Mock Juror?

Being a mock juror doesn’t afford a livable income, but great for some extra cash on the side. Keep in mind that online juror jobs are awarded inconsistently, so mock jury income isn’t something to count on for a steady stream of income.

Most mock-jury companies pay between $5 - $60 per case. Your total income from this line of work will depend on how many trials you review. Some companies, however, also hire in-person mock juries. In this case, live surrogate trials typically pay $150 for the day.

What Are the Requirements for Being a Mock Juror?

• You must be 18+ years of age.
• You must be a U.S. citizen (permanent resident does not qualify)
• You can’t have been convicted of a felony
• You must be of sound mind and good moral character
• You must be able to read and write in English at the native level
• You can’t be under indictment or legal accusation for any felony or misdemeanor

Here Are 5 Companies That Will Pay You to Be an Online Mock Juror

eJury

eJury’s mock jurors help attorneys determine case value, develop case themes, find the facts to emphasize, and learn “public” attitudes. The results they provide are a tangible and persuasive tool used to promote settlement or prepare for trial.

In addition to the requirements above, eJury has special qualifications which require an “Oath” to be completed by Jurors during the sign-up process. Each juror must:

• Not be an actively practicing attorney, paralegal, or legal assistant;
• Not be employed by or associated with an attorney or law firm;
• Not be related to a practicing attorney within the first degree of affinity (marriage) or within the second degree of consanguinity (blood); and
• Not be employed as an insurance adjuster, nor associated with the adjusting of liability claims

Jury Test

Jury Test asks you to complete a registration form, which includes a contract. The contract states,

“As a juror on JuryTest Networks, you must attest to the fact that you are not a lawyer or insurance company representative. Further, you must agree that you are participating as a consultant to the lawyers who will utilize this service, and you will not disclose the names of any parties on cases that you review.”

How their system works:

1. A summons will come to you in the form of an email for you to review a lawyer’s case. They will ask you to listen, jot down a note or two if you’d like to. The case summary you’re listening to will take anywhere from 5-30 minutes. They will inform you of the time, so you can choose the length of the cases in which you’d like to participate. You are paid more for more prolonged cases.
2. They will ask for your feedback after you’ve reviewed the case.
3. You will be paid. Your payment will depend on the length of the case, the type of feedback you provide, and, in some cases, the speed of your response time. They will tell you how much you will be paid ahead of time, so you can choose the cases you want. Payments typically range between $5 to $50 per case.

Resolution Research

Resolution Research recruits individuals for mock trials from various educational, financial, and social backgrounds to reflect the potential juror population for your case. Potential jurors are highly screened before being accepted.

To sign up, you provide a profile of yourself. Once Resolution Research has a paid research study or mock jury that matches your demographics, they send you an email or text with screening questions to determine if you qualify. If you fit what they need, they will call to schedule a time and provide you with all the details for an online or in-person mock jury. Once you’ve completed the job, they will either pay you electronically, mail you a check or Visa cash card.

I couldn’t find the amount they pay in my research.

OnlineVerdict

OnlineVerdict.com provides online case review and juror feedback services to attorneys.

• Case information is summarized and presented to qualified jurors
• The attorneys then use juror feedback to discover the strength and weaknesses of their case, the possible settlement value, and general attitudes and opinions about their case facts

They need students, stay-at-home parents, retirees, the self-employed, and professionals. You can choose which cases you want to review, and there are no long-term contracts.

• You sign up by providing some basic demographic information to qualify you.
• You will receive an email invitation from OnlineVerdict to review a case at your convenience.
• Suppose you accept the invitation to be an online juror. In that case, you will be asked to agree to the confidentiality policy, review the case materials, and answer all questions asked about the case.

Each case review takes between 20-60 minutes to complete. Online Verdict will pay you $20-$60 to reflect the amount of time they estimate it takes to review a case. You will be told this amount when you receive your email invitation to participate.

You will be paid by check once per month.

Virtual Jury

Virtual Jury is an online focus group also called a mock jury.

You register, and when they have a focus group to conduct in your venue, they will contact you and invite you to participate. At this time, they will give specific instructions and information about your private juror fee. They mail checks to jurors within two weeks of participation.

A Final Thought

Being an online mock juror requires your time and desire to learn about a case, take it seriously, and give your feedback. Also, being an online mock juror doesn’t pay very much.

However, if you’re looking for some extra cash and have the time to give to the effort, being an online juror contributes to our legal system.

As John Adams said in 1774, “Representative government and trial by jury are the heart and lungs of liberty.”

If you choose to be a mock juror, thank you for your service.