Lori J. Costanzo was born in Tucson, Arizona and raised in Phoenix. Following in the footsteps of her father and aunt, she attended the University of Arizona, where she majored in business administration, graduating in 1984. She obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 1988.

Costanzo has 12 years of private practice and is experienced in handling a broad range of complex civil disputes for both Plaintiffs and defendants. She began a career in civil litigation, first working for an insurance defense firm in San Francisco, Morton, Bennett and Lacy. Her practice later included professional malpractice, personal injury actions including product liability, sexual abuse and molestation, insurance coverage disputes, construction defect, wrongful termination, and gender discrimination. As a litigator, Costanzo has conducted numerous depositions, discovery matters, expert witness retention, law and motion matters, writ of mandates, appellate briefs, trial experience, both jury and bench, mediation, arbitration and negotiation of countless settlements.

She is also a volunteer with SALA.