Patrice Truman

Patrice Truman is a national jury and trial consultant serving both plaintiff and defense attorneys in all areas of law. Her firm, Truman & Associates, is located in Berkeley, California. Her work involves various aspects of pretrial and post trial jury research, including focus groups, mock trials, prospective juror questionnaires, jury selection assistance, post trial interviews, witness preparation, and other strategic trial research.

Truman is a member of the American Society of Trial Consultants and a member of the State Bar of California. She received her law degree from Illinois Institute of Technology, Kent College of Law in Chicago, Illinois. Before becoming a trial consultant in 1993, she worked for two Bay Area civil litigation firms. She honed her trial consulting skills with another consulting firm for three years before opening the doors to her own firm, Truman & Associates.

Before attending law school, Truman was employed as a Research Associate at the international advertising agency of D’Arcy, McManus & Masius in Chicago. As a focus group moderator, she participated in the formulation of the advertising campaigns for clients such as Amoco Oil Company, The American Dairy Association, and Hallmark Corporation.

Truman makes presentations of her research knowledge to statewide bar associations and other legal groups. In the past, she has served as a faculty member for the National College of Advocacy by the Association of Trial Lawyers of America at a week-long seminar hosted by Stanford University.

The Truman & Associates biannual newsletter In Jurors' Own Words addresses jurors’ biases and perceptions, offers jurors' advice to counsel, and discusses jury dynamics and attitudes pertaining to legal issues. Truman's articles have been published in national publications, and distributed by law school professors as supplements to their lectures.

Truman remains active in the legal community. She is Past President of The Lawyers' Club of San Francisco, having served for the November 2004 to November 2005 term. Other memberships include Inn of Court, Queens Bench and Association of Business Trial Lawyers.