Confidentiality in Mock Trials and Focus Groups

Confidentiality goes both ways. Participants protect the case, and we protect the participants.

Why we ask you to keep it confidential

The cases you’ll see are real, active lawsuits, even when we change names and details. Keeping what you hear private:

• Protects the people involved. Leaked information could affect real plaintiffs, defendants, and witnesses.
• Protects the legal process. Attorney strategy is legally protected, and disclosures can affect a real case’s outcome.
• Protects you. Your confidentiality agreement is a binding contract. Breaking it can mean losing your fee, being removed from future studies, or facing legal action.
• Keeps the research valid. Results are only useful when participants respond honestly, without outside research or discussion.

What this means in practice: Don’t discuss the case, post about it, research it online, or take notes or recordings out of the session. You may say you took part in a paid research study.

Our commitment to you

Your honest opinions make this research work, and you can only share them freely if you know they’re protected. We:

• Use first names or participant numbers only. Your full identity isn’t attached to your comments in reports.
• Protect personal information. We store screening answers and recordings securely and share them only as needed.
• Ask permission first. We get your consent before recording and never use quotes or video in a way that identifies you without it.
• Respect your privacy. What you share about your experiences, beliefs, and background is used only for this research.

Questions? Ask your session moderator or contact us at any time.