Attorney Profiles

Born in Milwaukee, WI and grew up on the south side of Milwaukee. Paul has 5 brothers and was raised by a single mom. Growing up on the south side of Milwaukee, Paul attended the local Catholic grade school and worked his way through school by working at gas stations, having a paper route and doing whatever he could to raise money to pay for tuition and books. Paul attended Pius XI high school and once again worked to pay all the costs of his education, as did all his 5 brothers. His mom, Anne, was employed at the old Gimbels and Schusters in downtown Milwaukee and also as long distance telephone operator for AT & T.

Upon graduating from high school, Paul took a year off and worked in a foundry on the south side, only to discover that education was less strenuous (and not as hot!), so he enrolled in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, majoring in social welfare/criminal justice. Upon graduating with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 3 years, Paul attended Pepperdine University School of Law located in beautiful Malibu, CA. Paul was in the top of his class at Pepperdine and was placed on the Dean's List. However, longing to return to his roots (and avoid the bar exam) Paul returned to Wisconsin and completed his law studies at Marquette University School of Law, graduating in 1981.

Upon graduation, Paul worked as a legislative aide and then legal counsel and Executive Assistant to then State Senator Susan Engeleiter. While working in the State Senate, Paul handled legislative matters, policy issues and also campaign finance matters for the Republican Senate Campaign Committee. In 1983 Paul joined the Waukesha County District Attorney's Office as an Assistant District Attorney and was later appointed by Governor Tommy Thompson as the District Attorney for Waukesha County in 1988. At the time, Paul was the youngest District Attorney in the State. Paul remained the District Attorney of Waukesha County for a record term of almost ten terms, just under 20 years.

In 2005 Paul announced his candidacy for the Attorney General of the State of Wisconsin and began a two year campaign that culminated in his loss in the republican primary. Paul left the District Attorney's Office in January, 2007 and joined the law firm of Gatzke and Ruppelt, S.C., where he remains to this day. Paul's practice is comprised of litigation, criminal defense, personal injury, government law, open records/open meetings, campaign finance and election law and victim's rights.

Paul is married to Jessica who is a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the journalism department and who was one of the top Milwaukee area radio talk show hosts, having her own talk show on WTMJ radio, until leaving that position early in 2007. Jessica and Paul live in Waukesha County and have 5 children; Breanne, Tim, Chris, Matthew and Anne.