My Lifelong Fascination with Law

It all started with a courtroom. Not one I sat in, but one I watched day after day, with my eyes glued to the television. The Casey Anthony trial was unfolding in my home state of Florida. The story horrified me, but more than that, it made me start asking questions. Why didn’t the system work the way it was supposed to? Why did some voices carry more weight than others in court? And what would it take to make sure trials like that were based on truth, fairness, and real accountability?

That trial changed something in me. While other kids were watching cartoons, I was taking mental notes on objections and opening arguments. I didn’t know the words for it yet, but I had developed a deep sense that justice didn’t always fall in the hands of the just. And I decided I wanted to change that.

Mock Trial program with Judge Fernandez - 2015

In high school, I was fortunate to participate in the Mock Trial Program at the Orange County Courthouse. I stood in courtrooms with Judge Fernandez and Judge Kennedy, not as a spectator, but as a teen advocate learning how to build a case, how to listen with precision, and how the rule of law is a living thing. Those experiences cemented my sense that justice isn’t abstract, it’s built by people who care enough to fight for it.

Mock trial with Judge Kennedy at the Orange County Courthouse - 2015

During those same years, I spent part of a summer at Georgetown University’s Forensic Science Camp. There, I learned not just about science and evidence, but about how the legal system interfaces with medicine, public safety, and policy. I even had the surreal experience of speaking with a Secret Service agent. The camp may have been designed to teach us about blood spatter and fingerprinting, but I left more intrigued by the courtroom than the lab.

Summer Forensic Science Camp, Georgetown University – 2016

I also had the chance to meet Dr. Jan Garavaglia, known to many as “Dr. G,” the forensic pathologist who helped analyze the Casey Anthony case. Meeting her was like meeting a superhero. Her clarity, moral courage, and her ability to explain complex truths to the public showed me how powerful legal storytelling could be. It wasn't just about facts. It was about impact. She told me that my questions mattered, she encouraged me to keep going, and I have done that.

Even as I pursued other academic and professional paths, the legal world kept pulling me back in. Whether being outside the White House imagining future policy work or standing in front of the Liberty Bell to reflect on our country's legal heritage, I’ve always felt a gravitational pull toward institutions of justice. This curiosity took me from San Francisco at Alcatraz , to Philadelphia, where the echoes of constitutional law linger in every brick. I found myself constantly seeking proximity to justice.

                         Liberty Bell White House Alcatraz

This fall, I took things to a new level. I spent time in Boston visiting the campuses of New England Law, Suffolk University, and UMass Law. I walked their halls, sat in on a bar prep class, and took time to absorb the culture, curriculum, and values of each school, soaking up every bit of legal theory and practice I could.

               3L Bar review class, NEL The halls of NEL Anna Hirsch, NEL grad 1928

I also had the privilege of attending the Massachusetts Paralegal Association’s 50th Anniversary event, where I met Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell. Our one-on-one conversation about law school was a turning point. She spoke candidly about the resilience required in this profession and encouraged me to keep pushing forward.

               AG Andrea Joy Campbell Massachusetts Paralegal Association 50th anniversary event

Alongside those official visits, I got to enjoy Boston the way locals do. From our family lobster boil in Dorchester to late-morning pastries at Tatte, and even a Red Sox game at Fenway with my family, I felt more and more at home in the city I hope to study in. I was grateful to spend Labor Day with my cousin Leo Stella, a Suffolk undergrad and former Massachusetts State Senate Chief of Staff, who I got to share my goals with, and whose example continues to inspire me.

 Stella family lobster bake with my cousin Leo & his wife Allyson Tatte Bakery Fenway Park – Go Sox!

I’ve since earned my paralegal certification, joined the Massachusetts Paralegal Association, and launched a legal writing platform where I publish case studies and opinion blogs, including a forthcoming book on the Suzanne Morphew case. My goal isn’t just to enter law school, it’s to bring the same dedication I’ve shown throughout my life into a legal career that merges advocacy, scholarship, and real-world accountability. This timeline doesn’t mark a beginning or an end. It’s a living record of the values I’ve held for years: curiosity, courage, and commitment to justice, and the proof that I’m ready to take the next step.

– Caroline Stella