Jolean Watson

With nearly three decades of legal experience—including more than 20 years in Florida’s state courts and thousands of hours of courtroom experience—Jolean Watson brings a rare and strategic perspective to expert witness recruiting, grounded in firsthand knowledge of how litigation unfolds in the courtroom.

As a Judicial Specialist for the Clerk of the Court, Jolean actively participated in civil and criminal proceedings, working side-by-side with judges and attorneys. Her responsibilities ranged from advising on procedural matters and managing evidentiary records to facilitating voir dire, understanding and tracking legal rulings in real time, and ensuring compliance with courtroom protocols. She was regularly requested by the judiciary to support specialized initiatives including Veteran’s Court, Mental Health Court, and Drug Court, a testament to the trust placed in her judgment and precision.

Jolean’s deep courtroom experience gives her a critical understanding of what it takes for an expert witness to be truly effective—and for counsel to prevail. She understands the challenges lawyers face in preparing a case, persuading a jury, and meeting procedural demands under pressure, and brings that knowledge to every expert search she conducts.

Since transitioning to the private sector in 2018, Jolean has managed expert engagement for high-stakes litigation across sectors including pharmaceuticals, engineering, high-tech, financial services, real estate, healthcare, energy, insurance, and countless others. She specializes in identifying and vetting subject-matter experts who not only meet technical criteria but can communicate with credibility and clarity in litigation settings.

As a Recruiting Consultant with IMS Legal Strategies, Jolean collaborates directly with the top litigators in the country and renowned subject matter experts to ensure alignment on scope, strategy, and presentation. She excels in negotiating retention terms and fee schedules, offers consultative guidance to new experts, and develops compelling and focused presentations of expert credentials. Her role is to bridge the gap between law firm strategy and expert performance—ensuring every match is built for success in litigation.

Jolean is currently based in Pensacola, FL, where she also attended college to obtain an associate degree in paralegal studies. In her free time, she enjoys listening to live music, especially country. Jolean has been a lifelong supporter of her local food pantry and believes that no child should go hungry in this country.