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ASTC Membership

The American Society of Trial Consultants (ASTC) is the only professional organization for trial and litigation consultants. Members agree to follow approved standards of practice developed over the 40-plus year history of the organization. 

Our 300+ members include trial and litigation consultants, venue and recruiting partners, graphic designers, trial technology consultants, students, attorneys, and academics.

Do you have multiple employees who would benefit from an ASTC membership? Don't hesitate to contact Faye Honig for more information on special company membership bundles.  

Benefits of Joining ASTC

Joining ASTC isn’t just signing up—it’s stepping into a community of people who do what you do and love talking about how to do it better. And because relationships build careers, this is where yours grows.

When you join ASTC, consider starting by being featured on New Member Mondays so colleagues can put a face to your work. Many members also make a point to drop into First Friday Connection—a casual monthly Zoom that’s an easy place to swap ideas and start real conversations. From there, choosing one of our 12 committees can be a natural next step; the groups are small, so participation tends to translate into quick, meaningful connections. Then, the annual conference—with a new-member buddy system—and regional meetups help turn those online connections into in-person relationships.

Follow this path, and within a year you’ll have the beginnings of a trusted circle you can count on—and that will keep growing the longer you stay active in ASTC.

Some of the many benefits that ASTC offers includes:

Professional Networking & Referrals

Connect with a nationwide community across practice areas and venues, and build partnerships and referral pipelines.

Education & Events

Monthly networking sessions, educational webinars, and our Annual Conference.

  • First Friday Connection: 45-minute virtual meetups on the first Friday each month to connect, get advice, and share ideas.

  • The Professional Education Committee offers regular skill-building webinars, now with post-event Link & Learn networking. 

  • Voir Dire Master Classes: Goals & Philosophy, Strategy, Creating a Juror Profile, and Communication Skills & Presence in the Courtroom.

  • This year’s conference in New Orleans was a huge success. Stay tuned for details on next year’s conference in San Diego in June 2026!

Resources & Tools

Members-only resources and discussion forums for rapid peer input and problem-solving.

  • Job & Internship Board

  • Listserv, a quick communication tool for members to connect, share practices, and get advice

  • General Discussion Forum

Standards & Ethics

round your practice in ASTC’s Professional Code framework and best-practice guidelines for client trust and differentiating your services.

Visibility

Optional listing in the public “Find a Consultant” directory to help clients and colleagues discover you by service and jurisdiction. Optional “New Member Monday” LinkedIn post introducing you as a new member.

Mentorship & Community

These virtual 45-minute meetups are held on the first Friday of every month for members to connect, seek advice, reconnect with fellow members, or share ideas on enhancing their ASTC membership. 

Leadership & Impact

Serve on committees and task forces (e.g., Membership, Professional Education, Pro Bono, Research, Artificial Intelligence, Visibility), and contribute to initiatives that advance the justice system. Optional listing as a member or leader on ASTC’s website.

Industry Collaborations

Members can share their expertise by getting involved with associations like the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) through the Tex-ABOTA's Best in Voir Dire Competition and other collaborations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Trial/Litigation/Jury Consultant?

A trial/litigation/jury consultant can have many different roles. Because no specific education or certification is required, consultants have vastly different backgrounds. Trial consultants are employed to help their clients with a variety of tasks, including pretrial research, opening statements/narrative, trial graphics, witness preparation, expert witness testimony, venue surveys, jury selection (voir dire, supplemental juror questionnaires, internet research), shadow juries and trial monitoring, and post-trial interviews.

What is the American Society of Trial Consultants and who are the ASTC's members?

The American Society of Trial Consultants, Inc. (ASTC) is the only professional organization for trial and litigation consultants. Members agree to follow approved standards of practice that have been developed over the 30-plus year history of the organization.

Who can join the ASTC? Do I need to be a trial consultant to join the ASTC?

Members of ASTC come with a wide variety of practice areas, skills, and services offered within the trial consulting profession. For example, whether you are an active trial consultant, a recent graduate, a student, or retired – or if you provide services such as graphic/demonstrative evidence, running mock juries/focus groups, assisting with media relations, etc. – you can join.

What are the benefits of being a member of the ASTC, and what kind of specialized resources does the ASTC offer?

There are many benefits of being an ASTC Member! By joining, you are entitled to a range of resources and services to support you, your practice, and the profession as a whole, as well as constant opportunities to expand your knowledge about the profession and network with colleagues. Click here for a list of benefits as a member!

How much does it cost to be a member of the ASTC?

There are different levels of membership: Individual, Recent Graduate, Retired, and Student. Click here to learn about the different membership levels and to join.

Who should I reach out to if I am thinking about becoming a member?

For general inquiries or specific questions about how to become a member, please get in touch with our Membership Chair, Paul Valdez at pvaldez@nicholsresearch.com.

What are the upcoming events?

Each year, the ASTC provides regional meetups, networking, webinars, and educational events, including our annual conference. By becoming a member, you will be updated on these ongoing events. 

Is there a quarterly payment option?

Yes, we have added a quarterly payment option, so you can divide your annual dues into four equal payments, to be automatically charged to a credit card on the first day of each quarter. Note: to use this option you must pay by credit card.

Is there Auto Renewal for membership?

Yes, memberships will be automatically renewed on a yearly basis. Members can easily turn off automatic annual renewals in their profile on the website. Questions? Please contact us at info@astcweb.org.  Note: to use this option you must pay by credit card.

I am ready to join! What are the action steps that I need to take to become a member?

Connect with the ASTC Membership Committee

Paul Valdez

Nichols Research

Chair/Board Liaison

Patrice Truman

Truman Jury & Trial Consultants

Long-time Member Liaison

Kelley Tobin

Tobin Trial Consulting

Committee Member

Michelle Rey LaRocca

Decision Analysis

Committee Member

Zach Lindenberg

Bark Entertainment

New Member & Student Liaison

Paul Marchegiani

Vox Vera

Committee Member

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