Principal
Jacob Rolls, Esq.
Jacob is a Trial Consultant and Lawyer based in Austin, Texas and Brooklyn, New York. From 2005-2023 he was in the trenches, fighting for his clients as a Public Defender in New York. He’s litigated hundreds of cases ranging from disorderly conduct to homicide. When he hasn’t been on trial himself, he’s either been preparing for it or helping attorneys of all experience levels prepare and try their cases. He’s also been conducting jury simulation research for Courtroom clients since the early-1990’s. His decades of combined experience make him uniquely suited to help clients prepare for the combat of trial.
Education
Jacob studied Psychology and Philosophy as an undergraduate at Texas State University. He earned his J.D. at American University’s Washington College of Law in Washington DC, and his M.A. in International Relations, with a focus on Cross Cultural Communications, from American University’s School of International Service. He graduated with honors from all of the academic institutions he attended. In law school he was a Dean’s Fellow, a Senior Editor for the International Law Review, and the Commencement Speaker for his graduating class.
Trial Experience
Jacob was a Trial Attorney at the Criminal Defense Practice of The Legal Aid Society in Brooklyn, New York, from 2005-2023. There he tried many cases for many clients facing charges ranging from criminal trespass to homicide. When he wasn’t on trial, he was training, supporting and closely collaborating with attorneys of all levels of experience as they built and tried their cases. His years as a Public Defender taught him the mechanics and rhythm of jury trials, the power of a strong team, and how to fight for a client with everything you have in front of a jury.
Trial Consulting Experience
Jacob started helping his father, Courtroom Intelligence Co-Founder Jon Smith, set up and equip Jury Study facilities when he was in middle school. His contribution to each new case grew with his education and experience until he learned to fully design and execute evidence and issue testing mechanisms built around the needs of individual clients.
Throughout college, graduate school and eighteen years of trial practice he spent his free time traveling the country helping Courtroom clients objectively study and refine their cases for trial.
His work with Courtroom Intelligence has shown him that when clients are able and willing to invest in their case early and objectively test it, their chances of success can dramatically improve. He understands that the things we control at trial are limited, but that their power can be tremendous.
Living inside trials while working with Courtroom clients for so long makes Jacob uniquely qualified to share his energy and expertise with trial minded clients. Courtroom Intelligence is excited to announce that beginning in 2024, Jacob will be focused full time on helping our clients test their cases, build their themes, and tell their stories to the jury.
Let's Connect
We’re excited to learn about your case and explore what we can bring to your trial team. Let’s talk.
