Why Jury Trial Experience Matters

If you have a looming trial and you are not entirely sure that you are being represented by the right attorney, it is vital to understand exactly why jury trial experience matters. Just because an attorney is called a “litigator” does not mean that they have the type of experience needed to handle a jury trial in a California state or federal court. In fact, many people are shocked when they learn that a lot of jury trials are argued by lawyers with little to no actual experience in the courtroom. These days, far too many lawyers want to settle regardless of the terms of the settlement offer because they are terrified by the thought of having to present their client’s case to a jury. The Los Angeles trial lawyers at Tauler Smith LLP have tried countless cases in front of juries at both the state and federal level, and you can benefit greatly from our experience.

Keep reading this blog for more information about jury trials.

Jury Trials Are on the Decline in California and Nationwide

The number of jury trials in California, New York, Florida, and across the U.S. has been on a steady decline for several years. Part of the reason for this is the financial cost of going to trial, which can make it tough for litigants to justify moving forward with their cases. Another reason for the decline in jury trials is that far too many lawyers are afraid to take a case to trial because they don’t have enough actual courtroom experience. All of this has resulted in more pre-trial settlements and fewer jury trials.

The decline in jury trials is a problem because they often provide individuals with their best opportunity to get justice in a legal dispute. In fact, many of the most significant civil disputes are still decided by jury trials.

Jury Trials Are Different from Bench Trials

The truth is that your current lawyer’s experience with bench trials, arbitrations, and other types of court proceedings doesn’t necessarily mean that they can effectively represent you in a jury trial. Jury trials are typically won or lost on the basis of the litigation team, which is why you want to be backed by a lawyer who has actual litigation experience and who knows how to communicate your story to a jury.

Litigation Experience in the Courtroom

Trial work is very different from other types of legal work because it requires a high degree of expertise in several areas: the relevant practice area, legal writing, oral advocacy, and litigation. That’s why you want a lawyer with jury trial experience that includes trying cases involving business fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, employment law, and criminal defense.

It is important to recognize that there is a key difference between “litigation” and “experience.” It’s not good enough for a lawyer to promote themselves as a litigator if they do not have meaningful experience trying cases in front of a jury. Many of these so-called litigators will claim that they want to go to trial, but then they will force a bad settlement agreement with the other side at the last moment. Additionally, many litigators who have handled bench trials, arbitrations, and court hearings do not fully understand everything that goes into a jury trial, which requires a particular storytelling style and unique litigation skills. The bottom line is that your lawyer needs to be able to persuade a jury.

Settlements vs. Trials

The truth is that some attorneys just aren’t cut out for trying cases in a courtroom. Most cases settle, which is why most lawyers don’t have significant trial experience – and this is especially true for jury trials. If your case goes to trial, you are going to want an experienced litigator who understands both the literal law and the trial strategy needed to convince jurors that they should find in your favor.

California Attorneys with Jury Trial Experience You Can Count On

If you need to bring in a new lawyer on the eve of trial, it is important that you hire last-minute trial counsel with solid litigation experience. When you hire Tauler Smith LLP to handle your legal matter, you will get attorneys who will never, ever quit on you. We are also not afraid to take on the tough cases that other firms run away from. That’s because our Los Angeles trial attorneys know how to win in court.

Our attorneys are extremely comfortable trying cases because we practically live in the courtroom. When a client hires us to represent them, they can trust that we are not just looking to get a quick settlement offer and avoid trial. Our expectation is always that we will fight extremely hard for our clients and help them win at trial.

Contact the Los Angeles Trial Team at Tauler Smith LLP

The California litigation attorneys at Tauler Smith LLP have experience trying late-notice cases in front of juries. You can count on our skilled last-minute trial lawyers to handle your case because we are battle-tested in both state and federal courtrooms. Call 310-590-3927 or email us now to schedule a free consultation.