Early in my career, I thought confidence in lawyering came from having the right answer—and having it quickly. I watched seasoned litigators rattle off key holdings from memory, negotiate effortlessly with opposing counsel, and speak with authority that seemed innate. I assumed confidence was something you either had or didn’t, and that my job as a young lawyer was to quietly absorb as much as possible until one day I magically crossed some invisible threshold.
Jan 28, 2026 9:27 AM CST
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