LoStracco Interview - Doc Smith

When people look at TV and see a commercial that has to do with lawyers, Nicole LoStracco, 37, does not come to mind. But when it has something to do with the people of Nacogdoches and the students at SFA, she is right on top of it. Law is a way of life for Mrs. LoStracco, and she would rather keep it that way.

Born in San Francisco, California, LoStracco lives a normal life. Also living in Hawaii and the European country of Belgium, she is accustomed to new things. Her journey started at Mills College in the Bay Area and ended with her law degree at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. “I graduated from Texas Tech in six months with my law degree,” she said.
She started her legal career in Lufkin practicing child custody law and divorce. After a year, she quit the job there. “ I did not know what I wanted to do and I wound up in law school. I wanted to do family law,” she said. Tim James, who is recognizable in Nacogdoches, offered her a job as a paralegal. While working for James, she was involved with violence against women cases and child sex abuse cases for a few years. “I will not do child sex offense cases based on my judgment call,” she said.

She currently is involved with Dr. Peggy Scott and Beverly Farmer of the judicial council here at SFA. “You are young and do not know your rights to the fullest,” she said. She is actively involved also with the student organizations on campus dealing with sex, drugs and alcohol. She recently spoke to SFA students about risk management on September 24, 2007. Ten days later, Nikolas Gallegos died of alcohol poisoning at a fraternity party.

“Treat college kids as adults,” she said. She was also a speaker at a date rape prevention program this year.
After working for James for eight years, she left the district attorney’s office and opened up her own law firm. She is now a defense lawyer and does criminal defense work. Now she is running for the district attorney’s office of Nacogdoches County on the Republican platform, as is her opponent Stephanie Stephens, who is currently serving as the DA.

Mrs. LoStracco is married to James R. LoStracco, who she met while attending law school at Texas Tech. She is also a mother of two children, daughter Juliette, 4 and son Trey (James R. LoStracco III), who will be 2 this month. Standing tall in a long black skirt and grey sweater, people can hire LoStracco if in trouble.