The Power of Impression: 3 Tips for Staying Calm and Confident in the Courtroom

Here are 3 tips for staying calm and confident in the courtroom.

1.  Be prepared. As long as you are prepared (I typically err on the side of being over-prepared) and know what you need to say, you will be more calm and confident.  You can’t change the law or the facts.  Ultimately, all you can do is present your best argument (or, if we’re talking about witnesses versus attorneys, your best answers to questions).  Whether you win or lose, the more prepared you are the less pressure you should feel and the more confidence you should exude in the courtroom.
2. Don’t forget the judge is also human.  That’s right.  The man or woman in the black robe learned to ride a bike just like you, has feelings, probably has a family, travels to/from work, might have children, and might very well have a good personality.  He or she is not a scary monster.  Judges are people just like everyone else.  They just so happen to wear black robes (and have a lot of power). 
3. Look the part.  Our physical appearance affects how we feel about ourselves.  People typically feel more confident when they’re wearing nicer clothes, are well-groomed and well-rested.  Typically, a lawyer should avoid wearing one of their “junior varsity” suits to court and clients/witnesses should not show up in rags either.  You want to “look your best.”  The better you look and feel, the more confidence you will exude in the courtroom.  Caveat - you should avoid looking too flashy.  For example, in a prior blog post I discussed the fact that cufflinks and too much jewelry might not be well-received by some judges and juries. 

For more information on this article or the other articles in this series, be sure to check the Trial Lawyer on Your Side blog next week or contact the Goosmann Law Firm at info@goosmannlaw.com or (712) 226-4000.