EP 1015: On Ego: Why Female Attorneys Need It Part 2

Episode Summary

Part two of the discussion on ego explores when confidence becomes problematic. Mary Simon shares a story about two rival attorneys engaging in a heated exchange during a pretrial conference, which the judge halted, refusing to participate in an "ego measuring contest."

Key Insights

• Judges penalize cockiness similarly to how juries penalize a lack of confidence, as noted by Liz Lenivy.
• Liz recounts a case where a co-counsel’s overconfident and dismissive attitude led a client to seek her representation instead, illustrating how ego can subtly erode client trust.

Closing Thoughts

The episode concludes with a reflection on humility. Mary shares a personal anecdote about her father, who built their firm from the ground up, dismissing her praise of his success with the simple reminder: "the firm is just the people."

Special thanks to the sponsor, Simon Law Firm.