Legal Research

"Statistics + Surveys and Lawyers Don't Mix"

Posted by Ron Friedmann: "Last month, in As World Embraces Statistics, Lawyers Sit on Sideline, I lamented the lack of statistical mindset in the legal market. Why should we care? 

One reason: statistics can be very important at trial. Bob Ambrogi, in Statistics Surge as Evidence in Trials (IMS Expert Services August 2009 Newsletter, explains the growing importance of statistical evidence.

Another reason: to spot potentially unreliable statistics or analysis, whether for law practice or firm management. To illustrate, I deconstruct the Incisive Legal Intelligence law firm Economic Confidence Index (PDF) released in August (referenced at (an August 4th Incisive blog post).

Not Describing the Sample...

Comparing Surveys from Different Points in Time...

Ask Unambiguous Questions and Help Readers Interpret Surprising Results...

Report Data Accurately and Consistently...

Imagine presenting the Confidence Index to a judge who happens to understand stats and data. If you were the lead litigator, would you want to put this Incisive survey into evidence?

It's a new era for BigLaw. For both the management of large law firms and the proper handling of litigation, law firm managers and litigators will increasingly need to collect and analyze and present data. Let's hope, as Bob Ambrogi suggests, some lawyers and staff really can deal with data properly.

For those who do see a need to learn more about stats, law department management consultant and blogger Rees Morrison suggests 10 free courses to learn more about statistics in his September 13th post."

Full text and active links are available at the source site listed below.

Source: Strategic Legal Technology, 14 September 2009

Full post as published by Stark County Law Library Blawg on September 24, 2009 (boomark / email).