Martha Coakley holds a robust academic background, graduating cum laude from Williams College and earning her Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law. Early in her career, she gained experience as a prosecutor in Middlesex County, eventually leading the Child Abuse Prosecution Unit. Coakley served as Middlesex County District Attorney, where she prosecuted high-profile cases, including the Louise Woodward trial. She then transitioned to the role of Massachusetts Attorney General, where she handled significant legal matters, including defending Boston's response to a bomb scare and filing suit against the Defense of Marriage Act. Post her tenure as Attorney General, Coakley worked as a lawyer, lobbyist, and in government affairs, representing major companies.

Martha Coakley's political identity is marked by a calculated approach to policy, blending progressive advocacy with a focus on regional interests. Her tenure as Massachusetts Attorney General saw her pursue aggressive consumer protection measures while simultaneously advocating for environmental regulations. Coakley's legal actions against financial institutions for abusive practices reveal a commitment to economic justice, yet her support for buffer zones around reproductive health care facilities highlights a nuanced stance on civil rights. Her handling of the Big Dig litigation and crime lab misconduct cases indicates a pragmatic yet occasionally contentious approach to criminal justice, balancing state needs with individual rights.