About

Drawing on experiences from the hundreds of cases she has contributed to, Dr. Lynn Fahey serves as a strategic advisor to trial teams from case development through verdict. Her work is grounded in a simple question: how will real jurors hear, process, and react to the story being told in the courtroom?

Known for becoming a deeply integrated member of trial teams, Dr. Fahey has worked alongside attorneys through all-night war room sessions refining closing arguments, high-profile trials involving significant media attention, and the inevitable setbacks that occur in the courtroom — from difficult witnesses to adverse rulings midway through trial. She is often brought into cases not only for jury insight, but for her ability to provide a grounded perspective during high-stakes moments and help teams focus on what matters most to jurors. Whether helping a senior attorney deliver an opening statement, preparing an anxious executive to deliver their testimony, or helping an expert cut through pages of technical detail succinctly, she focuses on helping people communicate clearly and confidently while remaining themselves under pressure.

Dr. Fahey’s work combines two interrelated tasks: pre-trial research and in-trial strategy. Her experience in the courtroom shapes the way she designs and interprets mock trials and focus groups, while years spent listening to jurors in research settings inform the guidance she gives teams at trial. Central to her work is the belief that every element of a trial — from the flow of a witness examination to a single slide in a deck — contributes to the way jurors ultimately understand a case.

A significant focus of Dr. Fahey’s practice is witness preparation and courtroom communication. She has prepared a wide range of witnesses, including technical experts translating highly specialized subject matter for lay juries, witnesses who speak limited or little English, witnesses appearing remotely at trial, and witnesses requiring specialized accommodations related to testifying in court. She is halfway to her “Witness Prep EGOT,” having prepared both an Emmy and Oscar winner for trial.

Dr. Fahey designs research studies tailored to the strategic needs of each case, ranging from traditional mock trials and focus groups to more targeted and unconventional approaches. Her experience includes venue comparison research, fully online mock proceedings, mock voir dire studies, multi-panel focus groups, and large-scale opinion surveys. She is particularly interested in developing creative study designs that generate meaningful jury feedback while making efficient use of attorney time and client resources.

Dr. Fahey regularly teaches CLEs, presents on juror perception and bias, and authors publications on jury research and trial strategy. She earned her Ph.D. and Master’s degree in Sociology from Rice University and graduated with honors from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi with a degree in Psychology. She also teaches Sociology and Criminology at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles. Based in California, Dr. Fahey spends a great deal of her personal time in Texas.