How to Maximize Your Jury Duty Experience

Serving on a jury is your civic duty. Although most people dread getting summonsed and it is a huge interruption to your life, many people end up surprisingly enjoying the actual experience. Here’s how to make the best of your somewhat aggravating civic duty.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Bring a project with you! You will undoubtedly have an exorbitant amount of down time. Think of something you’ve always wanted to do but never had the time such as knitting, reading a good book, scrap booking etc. Bring that project with you every day; you will always feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day that way.
2. Get to know the people around you. You might be a struggling author sitting right next to a book publisher and never even know it!
3. Pay attention to the trial. So many meditations are based on simply enjoying the moment. If you get in the right mind set to enjoy the moment of jury duty you will leave the experience with a knowledge of the legal system, while watching a real life drama unfold right before your eyes.
4. Make sure to fill out the form that enables you to be paid. If your job does not compensate you for your time at jury duty then you are entitled to a small stipend from the government. Depending on the length of your trial it could add up nicely. After you have completed jury duty, you will be happily surprised when you receive a tax-free check about six weeks later.