Krystle Cacci spent her whole life in government. Her mother was a judge, afterall. It was a natural progression to go into service. In college, she forged ahead in government policy by getting two master’s degrees focusing on public administration.
Until she came to the realization that having a J.D. after her name would give her a competitive advantage.
“I never thought I would do the law-and-order stuff,” smiled Cacci, “because I didn’t see myself in the courtroom. But as a policy professional, having worked at four different government agencies in Tallahassee, I noticed when I would apply for more senior level policy positions, the people with a law degree consistently got the job. Not necessarily because they were the most qualified, but because of the automatic understanding of what a law degree meant. That was why I wanted to get a law degree.”
It was when Cacci earned an “A” in Research & Writing at Cooley that she recognized a new talent. She started to develop new interests and considering more legal career options.
While looking into externship opportunities in her last year in law school, Cacci turned to the Statewide Guardian ad litem Office in Florida for a position. She previously worked in that agency doing policy work and wanted to reintroduce herself to dependency.
She succeeded and started working 30 hours a week in the Tampa Guardian ad litem office alongside a trial team.
“It was great,” said Cacci. “I was in court all the time and learned so much. It was like a baptism by fire, of sorts. All kinds of moving parts and plenty of networking opportunities.”
In fact, while attending an attorney training conference during her GAL externship, she approached an appellate attorney she recognized, the GAL’s Statewide Director of Appeals, about the possibility of incorporating some appellate work into her existing externship.
That chance contact proved to be fortuitous and Cacci and added to her GAL externship the ability to work on multiple briefs.
“What a great feeling to get a real record filed on appeal,” exclaimed Cacci.
The Guardian ad litem experience not only allowed her to fine-tune her writing skills, she appreciated how flexible it was, even allowing her to work remotely.
“The office would just send me the record on appeal. I would draft it. Then I would send it back for their feedback. It was such a comprehensive internship.”
Subsequent to her experience with GAL, Cacci rolled out another internship with the State Attorney's office in Hillsborough County before graduation.
Once she graduated from Cooley, Cacci made the decision to work as a child welfare prosecutor, but for only eight months. That’s when the Guardian ad litem office reached out to her with a proposal.
“I kid you not,” said Cacci. They actually called me to ask me if I would be willing to join its appellate team, remembering my work there as an intern. I was so surprised and honored. Of course I said yes, and ended up doing straight appeals for the next 18 months."
Until the Florida attorney general’s office called to recruit her to work on criminal appeals.
That was the move Cacci feels ended up being her dream job. In criminal appeals, she gets to handle a wide range cases from appeals of misdemeanor convictions to capital sexual batter and murder, hoping someday to join the capital appeals division and handle appeals of convictions where the death sentence has been imposed.
“You know, I've had jobs in the past where I’ve thought, wow, this is the best job I've ever had,” smiled Cacci. “But I was sorely mistaken because this job that I have right now is hands down the best job I've ever had, even if I fell into it! I’m doing what I love. I tell any law student to consider this path, especially if he or she is a good writer. You can make a good life for yourself and command top dollar.”
Cacci not only loves her job, but enjoys being engaged in her community. Currently, she is on two voluntary bar association boards: the George Edgecomb Bar Association, the minority lawyer association in Hillsborough County, and the journal director for the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
She also is working alongside a Cooley Research & Writing professor as her grading assistant.
“I love helping students, and especially love getting law students excited about writing and the importance of writing in the law. I also feel good about the work I do in the criminal justice system, keeping bad guys off the streets. It makes me feel good at the end of the day and that warm feeling is what keeps me in public service.”