The inside of a courtroom is like a second home to Jean Paul. Over his years of practice in civil litigation and criminal prosecution, he has spent many hours there representing clients in trials, civil motions, and substantive court hearings. When not in the courtroom, you will likely find Jean Paul at his office advising and working with clients in landlord-tenant and fair housing law, particularly as it relates to unlawful detainer, forcible detainer, and ejectment actions for residential property.
What do you consider your most significant career accomplishment to date and why?
I had a client who found herself in a non-traditional landlord-tenant relationship with an emotionally abusive partner. The nature of the landlord-tenant relationship meant that I had to get creative in how I used the court process to evict the abusive partner from the household. The look of relief on my client's face when I was able to secure a court order evicting her abuser is like a photograph in my mind. It was like she could finally move forward with her life in peace. While this was not the biggest case in the world, it showed me how the court process can be used not just as a means to resolve disputes, but also as a tool to accomplish positive change in people's lives.
What is something you'd be happy doing every single day for the rest of your career?
If I could spend every day on my feet in the courtroom advocating in a case, I would. It can often be scary since you have no control over what a judge is going to do, but there is also a great feeling of accomplishment from winning a case or presenting a strong argument. You also get to witness a lot of entertaining cases while in the courtroom. There is never a dull moment.
What drives you professionally?
For me, it is the desire to improve my skills in something every day. Whether it be to learn something new about the law, further hone my court advocacy skills, or simply practice my writing.
Are you an active member in any local, state, national or international organizations?
For several years I have been a volunteer coach for a local high school mock trial team. It has been a great experience teaching the next generation about the law, how it affects them, and how to become better public speakers.
Can you name any skills or personality traits that you think are needed in your kind of practice that might differ from other practices?
Patience and having an excellent attention to detail. There are certain areas of law where little mistakes will not cause any issue for the attorney or the client. In my practice area however, a single "typo" in a legal document can result in a judge dismissing the case. The high level of scrutiny that judges use in my area of practice has helped me develop a careful, detail-oriented approach to how I advocate in cases. I still make mistakes sometimes, but my methods have helped me catch those mistakes and correct them before we ever get inside of a courtroom.