A wooden judge's gavel resting on a courtroom desk

Online Mock Jury Sites: Getting Paid to Weigh In on Court Cases From Home

ByWalter Briggs

If you like reading a good courtroom story and weighing both sides, there’s a small, quiet way to earn from home that many people have never heard of: serving on an online mock jury.

It won’t replace a paycheck. But a case now and then could help chip away at a small bill, such as a $15 streaming plan. That’s an estimate, not a promise, and it depends a lot on where you live.

What an online mock juror does

Lawyers often want to know how ordinary people will react to their case before it goes to trial. So they pay for practice feedback.

On a mock jury website, a lawyer posts a written summary of a case. It lays out the facts from each side. You read it at home, answer some questions and give your verdict. Nobody sees your name in court, and you don’t go anywhere.

According to eJury, one case is sent to at least 50 people, and a six-page case took about 35 minutes on average.

Sites that pay mock jurors

Here are three sites with their own published details, as of October 2026. Always check the site itself, since terms can change.

eJury

  • What it pays: $5 to $10 per verdict, depending on how long the case is. The amount is shown at the top of each case.
  • How you’re paid: through PayPal, one payment per completed case.
  • Who can join: US citizens 18 or older who can read and write, with no felony convictions. Lawyers, paralegals, people who work for law firms, close relatives of lawyers and insurance adjusters can’t take part.
  • How often: eJury says busy Texas counties such as Dallas and Tarrant get about one case a week, while most other counties get far fewer. Cities get more cases than rural areas.

eJury also says plainly that you won’t get rich, and that there’s no guarantee you’ll get cases.

OnlineVerdict

  • What it pays: online case reviews take 30 to 60 minutes and pay $30 to $60. Longer video mock trials on Zoom pay more but last hours and need a computer with a webcam.
  • How you’re paid: by check in the mail, usually one to two weeks after the case.
  • Who can join: US citizens 18 or older who live in the county or federal court district where the case would be tried.
  • How often: it depends on how many lawyers near you use the service.

JuryTest Networks

JuryTest Networks also invites people to review cases from home and register for free. It doesn’t publish its pay on its website; it says you’ll be told the payment terms before each case. Its sign-up form also mentions sharing your information with research partners, so read that part before you agree.

How to sign up, step by step

  1. Go to the site’s own juror sign-up page. Type the address yourself or use the links at the end of this article.
  2. Fill in your name, mailing address, county and email. eJury’s terms ask for your correct US mailing address.
  3. Answer the eligibility questions honestly.
  4. For eJury, you’ll need a PayPal account to get paid. If you don’t have one, PayPal’s website walks you through opening an account.
  5. Watch your email. When a case in your area comes up, you’ll get an invitation with a link.
  6. Read the case carefully, answer every question and submit your verdict.

Tip: sign up with two or three sites. Since cases come and go, more sites mean more chances.

Keep your expectations realistic

Cases can be few and far between, especially in small towns. Some months you may get none. Think of mock jury work as a pleasant extra, not a steady income. Results vary from person to person.

It pairs well with other small online gigs, like paid surveys or research studies, if you want a little more coming in.

Red flags to watch for

Both eJury and OnlineVerdict say there’s no charge to sign up or take part. That’s the rule to remember. The Federal Trade Commission warns that honest employers never ask you to pay to get a job.

  • Never pay a fee, buy a “starter kit” or pay for “training” to become a mock juror.
  • Never give out your bank login or your Social Security number to a site you found through a pop-up ad or a text message.
  • Be wary of any check that arrives for more than you’re owed with a request to send money back. The FTC calls that a classic fake-check scam.

If something feels off, you can report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

A word on taxes and benefits

Mock jury pay is self-employment income. OnlineVerdict notes that it doesn’t withhold taxes. According to the IRS self-employment tax page, self-employment tax applies once your net earnings reach $400 in a year.

If you receive Social Security before your full retirement age, earnings above a yearly limit can reduce your benefits for a time. See the Social Security Administration’s page on working while receiving benefits. Side income can also matter for SSI, Medicaid or housing help. Rules depend on your situation, so check with the agency or a tax professional before you count on this money.

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