In the last decade, civil jury trials in federal and state courts have virtually become an endangered species. In U.S. District courts alone, the number of civil jury trials declined from 11,446 in 1990 to 5,121 in 2006. Although attorneys now primarily rely on mediation and arbitration to resolve cases, litigators must still hone their trial skills in the event that a case can only be appropriately resolved by a jury. While many of the elusive jury trials are handled by seasoned trial lawyers, opportunities do exist for less-experienced lawyers to assist with jury trials or handle their own trials.
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