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For MyPhillyLawyer attorney John M. Logue, the first spark of interest and passion for the law began when he was a young boy in grade school, sitting around the dinner table at the home of his best friend and classmate from School of the Holy Child in Rosemont.
At that table, his friend's dad, the late John R. McConnell, a well-known Philadelphia lawyer and a former chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association, held court each night, regaling his family and guests about his work.
"He was a prominent defense attorney for the railroads," Logue says. "He used to tell us about his cases when I would have dinner with the family. He'd tell stories about the courtroom, court arguments, opening statements and funny witnesses. I used to spend a lot of time at their house because my mom worked. She was a single mom after my dad died when I was six, so I'd go to the McConnell's house after school. I'd be there for dinner a lot."
Listening to the stories Mr. McConnell told captured the interest of the grade school student. "I just knew that I liked the sound of what he did for a living. It was about helping people, about seeing that the right thing was done, that the law was followed and that things happened the way they should happen."
Those thoughts stuck with Logue throughout high school and college as he eventually pursued his own career in law.
"He was a great mentor to me," Logue said. "He was just a man with a lot of wisdom and a twinkle in his eyes."
Those feelings were cemented by similar stories and experiences with his uncle, William T. Gennetti, who was a longtime lawyer in Philadelphia practicing in City government during Mayor Richardson Dilworth's administration and for the U.S. Small Business Administration in both Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. where he was Chief Counsel.
Logue, who joined MyPhillyLawyer in 1999, carries those lessons with him everyday as he represents his clients today in cases from personal injury to other types of civil suits and everything in between.
Born in Philadelphia, Logue grew up in Newtown Square in Delaware County and attended Devon Preparatory School. He received his bachelor's degree in History and English from Villanova University and his Juris Doctor degree from the Pepperdine University School of Law. "I'm extremely fortunate and grateful that I had a mother who made sure that I received a good education."
At Pepperdine, Logue was on the Dean's List and ranked in the top 10 percent of his class. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and is admitted to practice before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
After college, Logue returned to his old high school and taught Geography for a year before heading off to law school.
His law career has spanned more than 28 years, including time in private practice and as an attorney for the Federal government with the U.S. Department of Defense where he handled cases involving acquisition contracts for the Armed Services, personnel law, discrimination cases and other litigation.
He's also handled cases involving worker's compensation, motor vehicle law, medical benefits issues for claimants and providers, slip and fall and other premises liability cases, and injuries and illnesses from tainted food.
Logue served on the Zoning Hearing Board for Newtown Township, Delaware County, for four years in the late 1980s and has served on arbitration panels in both Philadelphia and Delaware counties.
His philosophy for the law and for representing his clients is simple, he says. "I do have a passion for the law. I like to talk. I like to write. I like to advocate. I like to win and accomplish what my clients want to accomplish, fairly and professionally working through the justice system."
One of the most important lessons he's ever learned in the courtroom is one he recalls each day. "I think the biggest thing that any lawyer has to be on top of is preparation," Logue says. "You have to really know your case cold. You also have to see the big picture and be passionate."
That means being proficient in many different fields and a wide range of specialized terminologies. "The law forces you to learn about many different types of professions, medicine, engineering, science and other fields," he says. "You have to be prepared to soak up information on many different subjects."
Had he not gone into law, he might have worked as an on-air radio personality, he says.
"I really wanted to be a disc jockey," he says. "I'm a good talker. I'd be a good radio host. I love music and know music really well."
Away from his work, Logue is a big fan of theater and art. Both of his parents were artists - his mom still paints and his dad was a commercial artist. "I get my love of art from them," he says. "I also did a lot of theater in high school and college."
Logue is a collector of many things, most notably a collection of old and fascinating maps. He also enjoys burning his own mix CDs of a wide range of music to listen to and share with friends.
Logue lives in Chester County.
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