Houston, TX criminal defense attorney Chris Tritico talks about why he became a lawyer and what it takes to be successful in the courtroom. He points out that he decided he wanted to be a lawyer when he was just seven years old, and it became his singular focus for his entire life. He never considered doing anything else. He was fortunate that his father had grown up with the renowned lawyer Racehorse Haynes. Two days after finishing high school, he began working at the law firm of Racehorse Haynes, one of the most famous lawyers in American history. He worked there from 1979 to 1993, through college and law school, eventually becoming one of Haynes’ associates. Law was the only path he ever envisioned, and fortunately, he excelled at it, as he never had another direction in mind. It has remained his sole focus throughout his life.

He believes that the key to courtroom success is confidence. When he enters the courtroom, he must project that he is the smartest person in the room, that no one can outperform him. Even if that isn’t literally true, he exudes that confidence, seizing control of the courtroom from the moment he walks in and never relinquishing it until the case concludes. Success, in his view, comes from staying at the top of your game the entire time—commanding the proceedings, winning your points, and ultimately winning the case. He emphasizes that this is not about aggression, but about control, command, and execution.