Confidence: Why It Matters 

By Ripples Turquand

You might have heard the phrase “fake it ‘til you make it.” It might seem cliché, but for Mary Torres, Board Certified construction attorney at The Pettit Law Firm, it is everything. 

When it comes to high-stakes litigation, confidence will take you far. Just like Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, she had no clue what to do in the courtroom with the murder case, but since she confidently presented evidence, the judge ruled in her favor. 

Now, let’s be realistic. No matter how confident you are or how hard you work, you can lose. 

In a short interview with Mary Torres, I gained insight into her perception of confidence and how it affects the outcome of her cases. 

What is one piece of advice you’d give an aspiring trial lawyer? 

The best tip I can give is this: walk into that courtroom absolutely convinced that you have already won the argument, before you even open your mouth. Because confidence, real or completely manufactured, will carry you farther than almost anything else. Even fake confidence works. I love it. 

Fake it till you make it isn’t just a cute slogan; it’s real life. Everyone in that courtroom is doing it to some degree. It’s not just something that happens in the movies where the hero struts in and owns the room. This is actual, practical stuff. 

And here’s the best part: when you fake it long enough and hard enough, you stop faking it. You start tricking yourself into genuinely believing it. 

Self-manipulation is kind of a superpower, then. 

Exactly. You’re manipulating your own brain, and that’s manipulation in the absolute best way possible. 

It’s top of mind for me right now because I’m heading to trial next week, my first one in a while. So, these are the exact things I’m reminding myself as I walk in there: Act like I’ve already won… because half the battle is making myself believe it before anyone else has to.