When I entered private practice, I assumed that confidence would come naturally with experience. It didn’t. I practiced law for seven years before coming to Lawyers Mutual. During those years, I worked hard, handled a variety of client matters, and did all the things lawyers are supposed to do. Yet I never really developed confidence in my legal abilities. Like many lawyers, I struggled with imposter syndrome. No matter what I accomplished, there was always a nagging voice in the back of my mind suggesting that I wasn’t as capable as other lawyers seemed to be.

Then I came to Lawyers Mutual. I was hired by Gerald Arnold as a claims attorney. Judge Arnold had recently retired as Chief Judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals and joined Lawyers Mutual as Senior Vice President. While he was technically my boss, I came to view him as much more than that. He became a mentor.

What made Judge Arnold special was not his impressive résumé or his legal accomplishments, although those were considerable. It was his ability to encourage others and help them see strengths in themselves that they often could not see.

For the first time in my professional life, I had someone who consistently expressed confidence in my abilities. He trusted my judgment. He encouraged me to tackle challenging assignments. He offered guidance when I needed it, but he also conveyed a message that was just as important: “You can do this.”

That message mattered more than he probably realized. Over time, I began to believe it. The work did not become easier. I did not suddenly stop making mistakes. I did not acquire some magical level of legal knowledge that eliminated every doubt. What changed was my willingness to trust myself. I gradually developed confidence in my judgment, my skills, and my ability to solve problems.

Today, after many years of practice, I still experience moments of imposter syndrome. Every lawyer I know does. The difference is that those moments no longer define me. Most days, I believe in myself and my abilities. I credit Judge Arnold for much of that growth.

As lawyers, we often underestimate the impact our words can have on younger attorneys. We assume they know they are doing a good job. We assume they recognize their own potential. We assume confidence will come with time. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn’t.

Many young lawyers are carrying around private doubts that no one else can see. They are wondering whether they belong in the profession. They are questioning their abilities after a difficult hearing, a demanding client, or an inevitable mistake. What they may need most is not another critique or another assignment. What they may need is someone they respect telling them, “You are capable. You are growing. You’re going to be fine.” A few encouraging words from an experienced lawyer may seem insignificant in the moment. But those words can alter the course of a career. I doubt Judge Arnold ever realized how much his confidence in me changed the way I viewed myself as a lawyer. He did not teach me the law of legal malpractice. He gave me something far more valuable. He helped me believe that I belonged in the profession and that I was capable of doing the work. Years later, that gift continues to influence how I approach challenges and how I view myself as a lawyer. Every lawyer has the opportunity to give that same gift to someone else. We may never know the full impact of a few encouraging words, but for a young lawyer struggling with doubt, they can make all the difference.