When handling actuarial matters in the courts, a significant aspect of the task involves translation. The actuarial disciplines often produce work product which is arcane, specialized and far from the experience of judges, arbitrators or jurors. And when such a lay person has to pass a legal judgment on actuarial matters, communicating those concepts clearly is paramount.
A few years ago, I delivered a presentation along with my former partner Sandy Brown titled Actuaries Are From Mars, Judges and Juries Are From Venus. The presentation provided jury research and some tips for the actuary in translating his or her work for the non-actuarial audience in the legal sphere. As we see actuarial work getting discussed broadly in the press in the context of public pension funding issues or the premiums being charged on health insurance exchanges under Obamacare, the points in that presentation are worth reviewing again. I have made it available for download at this link.
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