Former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty, L’83, Serves as First Alumnus in Residence

December 8, 2008

Paul J. McNulty, L'83, delivers his lecture “From Capital to Capitol: Memoirs from the Hill and Halls of Justice”
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Capital University Law School kicked off its Alumni in Residence Program this month with former U.S Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty, L’83, H’03, serving as the inaugural alumnus in residence.

Paul McNulty met with College Republicans

The program brings Capital University Law School’s distinguished alumni to the school, each semester, for several days to connect with law students, faculty and alumni in the classroom, in small group settings, and in discussions.

“Capital University Law School has wonderfully successful and accomplished alumni all over the country who engage in the practice of law, in business, and in government in a wide variety of settings. We are proud to be able to bring them to the Law School to engage with our students, faculty and alumni,” said Dean Jack A. Guttenberg.

From 2005 to 2007, McNulty, a 1983 Capital University Law School graduate, served as the U.S. Deputy Attorney General, the second highest-ranking official in the U.S. Department of Justice. He was chief operating officer of its more than 100,000 employees and he chaired the President’s Corporate Fraud Task Force, where he oversaw several high-profile corporate fraud prosecutions.

Paul McNulty met with assistant United States attorneys for the Southern District of Ohio. The Law School has a strong connection to the office. Ten of the office’s 25 attorneys are Capital University Law School alumni and Assistant U.S. Attorney Doug Squires is an adjunct professor teaching Forensic Evidence. Left to right: Michael Burns, L’78; Mark D’Alessandro, L’79; David M. DeVillers, L’92; Andrew Malek; Marcia Harris; Brenda Shoemaker, L’88; Paul J. McNulty, L’83; David J. Bosley, L’78; and Doug Squires. Alumni who are assistant U.S. attorneys for the Southern District of Ohio not pictured: Gary Spartis, L’79; Timothy Pritchard, L’92; Deborah Solove, L’81; Kevin Kelley, L’89; and Dana Peters, L’86.

While in Washington, McNulty has been involved in some of the nation’s highest profile issues. Just days after 9/11, McNulty was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, making him one of the primary enforcers in the nation’s war against terrorism and overseeing the federal prosecutions of American Taliban member John Walker Lindh and Zacarias Moussaoui. He was Chief Counsel to former House Majority Leader Dick Armey and spokesman for the Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee during the impeachment proceedings against President Clinton. Before that, he was Chief Counsel to the U.S. House Subcommittee on Crime during the hearings on the FBI’s 1993 federal raid at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas. While working for the Subcommittee on Crime, he was a principal draftsman of many of the most significant federal anti-terrorism, drug control, firearms and anti-fraud statutes.

At the Jobs in Government panel, left to right: Assistant Dean of Career Services Mary Ann Willis, Jennifer Adair, L’05, Assistant Attorney General, Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Paul J. McNulty, L’83, H’03, Baker & McKenzie LLP, and former U.S. Deputy Attorney General, Magistrate Kathleen Graham, P’77, L’82, Franklin County Municipal Court

McNulty also has served on two presidential transition teams - President George H.W. Bush in 1992 and President George W. Bush in 2000.

McNulty is currently a partner with the Washington, D.C. firm Baker & McKenzie LLP. His area of practice focuses on business crimes and investigations and corporate compliance and risk management practices.

“Paul McNulty has extraordinary experience and a very interesting story. We are very proud of his accomplishments and honored that he served as our first Alumnus in Resident,” said Guttenberg. “His presence at the Law School for two days was an exciting learning opportunity for our students.”

In addition to a lecture to the Law School community titled, “From Capital to Capitol: Memoirs from the Hill and Halls of Justice,” his two-day schedule included visits with student organizations, serving as a guest lecturer in law classes, a student leadership breakfast, a panel discussion on jobs in government, and a visit to the U.S. Attorney Office for the Southern District of Ohio.