Stone graduated magna cum laude from the University of Utah in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, with an emphasis on botany and mathematics.
He subsequently worked for the United States Department of Justice in Washington D.C., with the Attorney General's Honor program.
In 1990, Stone returned to Utah to enter private practice with the Salt Lake City firm Jones, Waldo, Holbrook, and McDonough where he specialized in antitrust and commercial litigation.
Stone also represented the United Potato Growers of America, among others, in a multi-district class action lawsuit involving antitrust matters.
[5] While with Jones Waldo, Stone served on the law firm's Board of Directors as well as the Executive committee prior to his appointment to the bench.