Have you ever heard of being an online juror? The gig basically means sitting on a “mock jury” for practice cases. Lawyers will use e-trials to help them decide how to approach a case, or even whether to accept a case at all. You’ll often get paid per verdict that you submit, and cases vary in length and time commitment.
Mock trials can be really interesting. You’ll either watch or read (or both) information about the case and then render the verdict you would give in that case. Lawyers use the “feedback” of mock trials to get a feel for how the case will “look” to a typical juror, how effective their arguments are, and what the possible outcome might be.
The work is interesting, the pay is decent, but the opportunities are sporadic. Being an online juror is a pretty cool way to make some extra money from home, but it’s not the kind of thing that will bring you a reliable income… especially if you live in a rural area. That said, it’s certainly an opportunity worth looking into! Here are seven sites offering to pay you for being on a mock jury:
1. eJury
This is one of the lower paying online juror sites, but it’s a great first stop because their website is ideal for beginners. It has a “learn about” section for jurors that explains the process and your role in it. There’s a sample case for you to look at if you’re interested, and the website also says that the average juror took about 35 minutes to complete a 6-page sample case. Payments are made via PayPal.
2. Jury Talk
JuryTalk offers one-day legal focus groups and mock trials. When you sign up, you’ll have the chance to participate in either or both of these. In their registration form, they ask a few extra personal questions (like religion and political affiliation) which may help them put together a more targeted sample of jurors.
3. Jury Test
The JuryTest website is interesting because it’s geared toward the attorneys who might use the service. As a result, you get a really good idea of the benefits of online jurors, which explains why this type of work really is important for attorneys. JuryTest was developed by an attorney who teaches at Harvard Medical School, and the application is relatively simple.
4. Online Verdict
The OnlineVerdict.com website offers a bit more information about how the process works. Cases are summarized and submitted by attorneys, and when a case in your county or federal district is available, you’ll read the summary and respond to an online questionnaire about the case. Payment is made by check once a month.
5. Resolution Research
Resolution Research isn’t just for mock trials — their company offers all kinds of “research” opportunities (in other words, surveys). The pay isn’t all that great and there’s a $10 minimum to cash out, but if you’re looking for something that comes with a ton of options, you might be interested in this one.
6. Sign Up Direct
In addition to online juror opportunities, you might be able to find in-person mock trial opportunities. The pay is substantially higher for sitting in on a mock trial, and the cases will often directly affect people’s lives. Many times, attorneys will hold a mock trial to get their clients to see how a “real trial” might go, and it helps the opposing parties resolve their issues while avoiding the long wait times and hefty expenses associated with real court trials.
7. Virtual Jury
Virtual Jury calls itself a legal focus group, which is similar to all the other online juror sites. When a case is available in your area, you’ll receive a notification and you can choose whether or not to participate. Pay is different from case to case, and payment is mailed via check within two weeks of the end of the focus group.
Other Things You Should Know
Where you live matters when it comes to finding work as an online juror. A major qualification point is where you live, as most often you’ll need to be a resident of the same city or town where the mock case is being held.
Be sure to read the fine print on any of these juror sites closely. You may be disqualified if you’re an attorney or closely related to one, or for any host of other reasons. Each trial may come with its own requirements and stipulations, which is in part why this is such an interesting gig, but it can also make it a little tricky to land one.
More Ideas for Work-At-Home Legal Jobs
If the law fascinates you but you don’t want to practice it (or slog through law school), consider becoming an at-home legal transcriptionist. There are three main types of transcription: general, legal, and medical. Legal and medical transcription jobs usually require extra training. (I recommend you check out the training offered by Transcribe Anywhere — they even have a free mini-course to help you decide if transcription is a good choice for you.)
Read up on at-home transcription work to see if it appeals to you, and when you have some experience under your belt, go for a position in the legal field!
And although there are fewer opportunities to be a court researcher than there used to be, the field does still exist and could be fun if you’re interested in legal matters. A court researcher helps pull legal documents, such as land deeds and marriage licenses, in his or her local area. Most of this can be done online but some counties still require a trip to the courthouse — which is where you come in. Learn more about working from home as a court researcher.
More Ways to Work From Home:
Wow! That’s a great list of resources. I’ve heard of the virtual jury. This is a really nice way of earning money and participating in bringing justice to innocent people. Although it’s an interesting gig, but one has to be a little smart to land one by themselves. Thanks, by the way, for giving a fresh resource. I am going to bookmark this one.