Ever since high school, Gabriella Logiudice imagined her fighting the good fight as a police officer. Not because she had a family in law enforcement, but because she had a desire to achieve justice and protect those most vulnerable, especially children.
“I always worked in childcare throughout both high school and college,” stated Logiudice. “I had a job at the YMCA and loved working with kids, including some kids who were on probation. That’s where I found my passion to help children get justice. To me, children are our future. We need to invest our energy in shaping children into how we would like to see the world.”
That was the mindset that led Logiudice down the road of law enforcement.
“It was out of left field honestly. I don’t remember a time where I didn’t want to do something in the legal field. After thinking about it for awhile, I imagined myself as a police officer working in a special victim’s unit with children.”
She followed her dream through college, graduating with a major in Criminal Justice and minor in Psychology. She even spent her last semester over the summer in a three-month Junior Academy course to get certified as a special police officer in the state of New York.
Her first assignment was patrolling DUI checkpoints, but rather than thinking she loved the work, she started questioning whether police work was really the right path for her.
“I was patrolling around, and I hated it,” declared Logiudice. “I felt stuck. There seemed to be so few options for me to change my trajectory.”
It was especially eye-opening since she was working at the start of the Covid pandemic, and police officers were essential workers.
“There was no buffer,” recalled Logiudice. “The police department didn’t shut down, and times were uncertain. That was when I said to myself, if I have to get up every morning to go to work, it better be something I love to do. And I knew police work wasn’t it.”
That realization didn’t change her passion for justice though. She spent quite a bit of time reflecting on career opportunities where she could use her law enforcement background, and, at the same time, advocate for children.
“I kept wondering how some people managed to find a way to work with children, and how this could have slipped through the cracks,” questioned Logiudice. Why, and what went wrong? And then I thought, I’d like to be a lawyer - that way I could help put these people away.”
That was it. Logiudice took the LSAT her last semester in college.
Her next decision was to decide where she wanted to get her legal education. Florida was at the top of her list.
“I knew I didn’t want to stay in New York. I hated the weather, and I always had this dream of being in Florida after spending many a vacation there. I nearly went to the University of Tampa for undergrad but decided at the last minute that I needed to stay closer to home.”
Logiudice investigated law schools in the Tampa area, and ultimately chose Cooley Law School after a campus visit.
“I noticed that the people at Cooley looked like me; women and older adults,” recalled Logiudice. “I’m just used to that environment in New York. It was extremely diverse. I could see myself there. I also enjoyed the fact that the people seemed kind and friendly, not hyper-fixated on how they’re going to kick you down. That was important. I committed that day and showed up on the first day of classes.”
Now, after two years, Logiudice says coming to Cooley was one of the best decisions she has ever made.
“I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to come to Cooley,” said Logiudice. “I have put forth my best effort and it has paid off. I've done well and very pleased with where I’m at in law school. I’m hoping to maintain my top 10 percent status in the class. I do feel like I owe a lot of my success to the people I have met here. Everyone has been extremely willing to help, from the professors to all my friends and classmates. Honestly, I’m not sure I would have gotten this kind of support at any other law school.”
Logiudice went on to say that Cooley’s collaborative community environment is genuinely unique.
“Obviously, I don’t have experience going to another law school, but from what I’ve heard from my friends, I definitely think they’re shocked to see how many friends I have made and how we all study together and help one another.”
Coming to Cooley, Logiudice knew she was entering unchartered waters. From the get-go she leaned into Cooley's people and resources. She immediately noticed the student TAs in the classroom; how helpful and available they were to their classmates.
“I took advantage of the Dean’s Fellows as a resource from the start," said Logiudice. “I would even ask personal questions, like what classes they liked or didn’t like, and what they would suggest for a good internship or networking connections. [Dean’s Fellows] Sarah, Mya, and Courtney helped me a lot that first semester. They were brilliant. Any time I had a question, it seemed like they just knew what they were doing, even without looking at their notes. I really looked up to them. So, when I met the qualifications to be a Dean’s Fellow, I immediately wanted to pay it forward in the same way.”
Logiudice remembered when she first recognized that she was making a real difference to her classmates. It was during a first-term Contracts I class, and she was the teaching assistant.
“Last September, the new incoming class was huge – 60 or 70 at this campus. I attended their orientation on both days. I even led one of the orientation group discussions. That was the start of my new relationship with my fellow students. I made sure that semester that I was present to help answer their questions. I wanted them to get off on the right foot. Then I happened to be in the ARC office the day before an essay was due.”
A crowd of nervous students walked into her office. They were concerned and hoping to get some help and a few answers. Afterall, this was their first written essay that was going to be graded.
“I asked the 10 students to pile into my office and they quickly started launching questions at me,” smiled Logiudice. “It ended up being a group conversation. They wanted to make sure they weren’t going in the wrong direction. I assured them that, based on what I was looking at, they were going to doe fine. That was exactly what they needed. It truly gave them peace of mind and calmed their jitters. They all were so appreciative.”
Now that gaduation day is getting closer, Logiudice has been exploring her many career options.
“Right now I am working for an attorney in dependency work, which essentially means helping children get back to their mom and dad after their parental rights were wrongfully terminated,” explained Logiudice. “I love doing this, but I am also considering other options, like Compliance. I enjoyed taking that class.”
She continues to take interesting elective courses and trying different internships to find a perfect fit.
Logiudice is also taking full advantage of the benefits of living in the Tampa Bay area.
“Living in Florida is obviously amazing,” declared Logiudice. I love the weather and enjoy swimming and going to the beach. My boyfriend, Alec, and I like to play pickleball together on the weekends, and we are getting a kick out of my new puppy, a sweet little yorkie named Mila. She is so sweet.”
Logiudice has a few pieces of advice for law students. "Take care of yourself and don’t second guess your decision to attend law school. Make sure your mindset is prepared for the rigor of law school. Ask for help and join study groups. Make friends. That’s the number one thing that has gotten me through law school – my friends. Pick good ones. You go through a lot in law school; personal life, grades, school itself. You need to be with those who understand that, and how it all intertwines together."