Born in Kane, Pennsylvania, Conti grew up in an army family and graduated from high school in Germany.

[2] Conti graduated from Duquesne University with her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970 where she was a member of Alpha Phi.

[3] Conti began her legal career working as a law clerk for Justice Louis L. Manderino, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1973 to 1974.

In 1974, Conti was the first female lawyer hired by Kirkpatrick, Lockhart, Johnson & Hutchinson, now known as K&L Gates, LLP.

She was a Hearing examiner (part-time) for the Bureau of Occupational and Professional Affairs, Department of State in Pennsylvania from 1978 to 1982.