One thing Cooley Law School Dean’s Fellow Troy Conti learned about himself working as a sheriff’s deputy after college was that he enjoyed being in the courtroom more than he liked patrolling the streets.
But law school didn’t happen overnight; It “gradually started to take ahold of him,” according to Conti.
“I took the unconventional route, which is one of the things I love most about Cooley Law School – all the students come from every kind of background. When I got hired right out of my undergrad from USF in 2017 by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office, my mindset was that I wanted to somehow help people in public service, like I served my country in the military.”
Conti did find the work rewarding, but as time went on, he knew his heart wasn’t in it. He started thinking about law school again.
“I recall the time I was subpoenaed to court, and the State Attorney was a Cooley graduate. She told me about Cooley, and everything she said sparked my interest in law school and in Cooley. It wasn’t much after our meeting that I applied and was accepted to Cooley Law School.”
SERVING COUNTRY AND SOCIETY
Service is something that Conti has always been passionate about. It started with his great grandfather McIvor, who was a WWII veteran and a Prisoner of War (POW).
Conti first joined the military after high school and continued to serve his country through college, and even today in the Florida national guard.
“My great grandfather McIvor, on my mom’s side, was a bombardier for the royal air force,” told Conti. “He was shot down in Africa and held as a prisoner of war. For two years the family didn’t even know if he was alive. He was rescued finally by a group of Americans. The camaraderie between him as his rescuers ultimately inspired him to move to America.
"Great grandpa told everyone that he was going on “holiday,” one day, and then grandma would tell us decades later, “It’s been 60 years, and he’s still on holiday in America!”
It’s those memories, quips, and pearls of wisdom that he passed down to his grandson that stuck with him forever.
“My grandfather would tell me, ‘With great privilege, comes great responsibility’ and remind me that we live in a great country where we’re safe and that we come from a great family. He instilled in me that it was my duty to society to give back.”
Now that Conti has served his country here and abroad, he wants to continue to serve others, but as an attorney.
“I know that I can make an even greater impact and contribution to society as an attorney,” declared Conti.
COOLEY SPARK
There were many reasons Conti chose Cooley, but it was the law school’s culture and the location in Tampa that sealed the deal.
“I love Tampa,” smiled Conti. “My wife, Valerie, and I never want to leave, so we knew that a local law school would be ideal. When I visited Cooley, I enjoyed seeing so many students like me – people who weren’t fresh out of college. I wanted to be at a law school where I could relate to my fellow students. Now that I’m here, I am doing great in my classes and love being a dean’s fellow.”
It was another Dean’s Fellow who originally encouraged Conti to think about applying to be a Dean’s Fellow.
“I remember the lead for the Dean’s Fellows, Courtney Yonker, was in my class. One day she came up to me and told me emphatically that I would be a great Dean’s Fellow. She was so nice and explained things to me. I knew that I would love to help students since I loved to teach and coach. It reminded me of what I do in the military, and recalled what a pivotal resource they were when I started at Cooley.”
Conti knew all about being prepared in the military and knew logically that preparation was going to be instrumental for success in law school.
“I knew how grueling law school was going to be so planned to take it easy my first semester. I wanted to get those wheels going again, brush the cobwebs off the gears, and prepare,” shared Conti. “I started to gain confidence my first semester, but by my second semester I knew that I was going to do well and make it to the finish line.”
Conti now gives advice to new law students.
“I tell students during orientation that they should find a good study group. The people in my group are great because we hold each other accountable. No skipping any assignments or forgetting to brief a case. We quiz each other before exams and support each other by creating outlines. Being in a study group has been a difference maker for me.”
TAKING THE NEXT STEPS
Looking ahead, Conti is weighing all his options. He knows that he could easily go down a criminal law path with his military and law enforcement background, but is open to other legal careers that have sparked his interest.
“I’ve considered the military path, and applying for the JAG route, yet there are several other areas, including a career in Healthcare Compliance. I have a five-month-old daughter, Ella, who spent time in the NICU when she was born. The hospital staff was tremendous. They provided me and my wife Valerie with some needed support. Honestly, if not for them, my daughter wouldn’t be here today. I started thinking about this meaningful work, and how my law degree could be used to help families during those critical times in their lives.”
Now that the young couple and their baby are home, both are settling into their new lives as parents and professionals.
“Currently, Valerie is home with our daughter while she finishes classes to get her real estate license. I am totally focused on law school and starting my legal career. We do try to carve out some down time by meeting up with friends or spending time at Disneyworld. We are big theme park enthusiasts!”
Conti is also a muscle-car aficionado and is presently working on a Firebird. He and his wife have also discovered enjoyment working in their yard.
“I recently got into planting trees and plants, like lemons, limes, oranges, avocados, as well as pineapples, jackfruit, and hopefully peaches. I think it has to do with becoming a homeowner because it’s become a newfound hobby.”
INVESTMENT AND SACRIFICE
For Conti, he continues to follow his grandfather’s advice.
“Law school is an investment and a sacrifice,” says Conti. “It’s an investment because you’re investing in your future. The possibilities and rewards of a J.D. are unlimited. The sacrifice is in what it takes to get a law degree, the workload, the commitment. There are times when you will need to sacrifice being with family. As Professor DuBose would say, ‘it’s grandma’s birthday but you can’t go because you have an exam this week.’ But what I tell new students is that the sacrifice may be a long and difficult journey, but it is a very rewarding journey.”
