Q&A with 1L Paul Hallett, Former Senior Legislative Aide to Paul Ryan

Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of Q&As with incoming Minnesota Law students.

Before enrolling in Minnesota Law’s class of 2021, Paul Hallett served as senior legislative assistant to Paul Ryan, the 54th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. He recently answered a few questions about his background and his aspirations as he embarks on his legal education here at Minnesota Law.

Welcome to the Minnesota Law class of 2021! You have an interesting background as senior legislative assistant to House Speaker Paul Ryan. Could you discuss a little bit about your experience?

Minnesota Law Class of ’21
I worked for Speaker Ryan for about three years, after having spent my first year out of college working for Speaker John Boehner. I started off in an entry level role on Speaker Ryan’s policy team and eventually had the opportunity to serve as his senior legislative assistant. In this policy role, I advised the speaker on a portfolio of a legislative issues, including national defense, foreign affairs, veterans, the judiciary, education, labor, Social Security and his anti-poverty and welfare reform agenda. It was a great honor to serve under a longtime hero of mine, and I learned a great deal from my three eventful years with him. In my work with members, staff, activists, and a range of other stakeholders, I gained a great understanding of the issues I covered and of the legislative process, and, despite the political divisions of our time, I acquired a deeper and more profound respect for the sanctity of self-government and the genius of the Constitution.

Why did you choose Minnesota Law?

Candidly, the choice was easy for me. Minnesota will always be home to me. It’s where I was born and raised, where my family lives, and where I want to live and work, and being so close to home after a few years away is a nice benefit. In addition, Minnesota Law is such a phenomenal academic community with a great commitment to the law as a mechanism for solving problems and serving people. Minnesota Law has terrific tradition of and reputation for excellence across the state, nation, and globe. I am truly thrilled to have the opportunity to pursue my legal education among world-class faculty, staff, and students.

Minnesota Law is also a place known for putting an emphasis on leadership. What does leadership mean to you?

It seems to me that underlying any true act of leadership is the courage to sacrifice with and for others in accordance with or in furtherance of a higher principle or greater good. The amount of courage, the size of the sacrifice, the weight of principles at stake, and the ways in which leadership manifests itself vary greatly. Leadership is not always successful, and successful endeavors do not always enjoy true leadership. Nevertheless, in things great or small, leadership—or at least a great part of it—involves the courage to sacrifice in order to serve.

What do you hope to do with your legal education?

I have an open mind and am excited to see what interests me most as I engage in my coursework, but I am interested in administrative law, both from the perspective of potentially representing clients before government agencies and with regard to the formulation and implementation of public policy. Whether through my career or outside of my professional life, I certainly hope to use the practice of law and the knowledge gained from it in some form of service to the public.

Do you have any interesting hobbies or leisure activities?

I draw every day—usually pencil sketches. In addition, I love to laugh and to see others laugh, and I can do a few politician impressions that I picked up during my years on Capitol Hill. (If you’re interested in my impressions, I would recommend requesting my George W. Bush, which is my best). I am also working on the manuscript for a book (may have to table that during law school).

It was a great honor to serve under a longtime hero of mine, and I learned a great deal from my three eventful years with him. —Paul Hallett ’21, on his time working with House Speaker Paul Ryan

What three adjectives describe you best?

Loyal, kind, curious.

What else would you like to share with the Minnesota Law community about yourself and your aspirations?

I have twin siblings who are 21 years old. My parents met at Gonzaga Law School, during the Coolidge years, I believe ... My friends and I performed Backstreet Boys’ “Larger than Life” as the closing act of a high school “talent” show. I went to Catholic schools for K-12 and to UW-Madison for undergrad. I once saw Larry David walking down the street. Great day.