Scott Costantino was elected 2019-20 president of the Florida Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Who or what inspired you to become a lawyer? I did not come from a family of lawyers and it was certainly not my lifelong dream to be one. In law school, I was not sure I had made the right choice until I started participating in a trial clinic class. Once I stood up in front of the mock jury I knew I had found my calling. In practice, the thought of having someone place their trust in me to protect them when their rights are at stake is truly an honor.
Someone other than my spouse who inspires me: My dad, who died more than 20 years ago, is my greatest source of inspiration. I can still hear his words of wisdom and encouragement.
How do you relate your undergraduate degree to your practice of law? I studied finance at the University of Florida. Since starting my law firm in 2012, my business background has been helpful in handling the business side of running a law practice.
How did you decide your practice area? And why have you chosen that? I started as a railroad and insurance defense lawyer. When I showed up for work at my second job my boss, Rut Liles, asked me to take over a few plaintiff personal injury and medical malpractice files. I was immediately hooked by the reward of making a direct and positive impact on the lives of our clients.
What has been the biggest change in your practice area since you passed the Bar? When I started practicing law, all the lawyers in the legal community pretty much knew each other. This is clearly no longer the case.
What do you think will be the next biggest change in your area of law? I expect that the next major breakthrough in courtroom technology will be the use of artificial intelligence at trial. AI will likely have a tremendous impact on complex cases such as medical malpractice and product liability.
If I could change anything in the legal system, I would: Bring back more civility and professionalism in our dealings with each other as lawyers. We all work hard and face a lot of stressful moments. At least we can treat each other the way we would like to be treated.
What community service have you pursued and why that? Over the past several years my community service has focused on the educational programs offered by the American Board of Trial Advocates. The Teachers’ Law School works with local teachers to support their efforts in making sure their students are receiving a top-notch civics education. The Seventh Amendment Symposium allows us to educate our youngest citizens, our students, on the importance of the right to civil jury trial and the role our judicial system plays in the three branches of government. Our local ABOTA chapter has a wonderful partnership with Duval County Public Schools and I am proud to be a part of this.
What’s your advice for new lawyers? Work hard, play by the rules, treat your opponent with civility and respect and at the end of the day go home and enjoy every minute with your family and loved ones.