Paul Northcutt, a 2006 Ozarks alumnus and McAlester, Okla. native, recently returned to his hometown as the newest attorney at the Edwards Law Firm.
Paul Northcutt, a 2006 Ozarks graduate, recently returned to his hometown of McAlester, Okla., to practice law. (Photo courtesy of The McAlester News-Capital.)
Northcutt, an accounting major and political science minor at Ozarks, always knew he wanted to attend law school. After graduating from Ozarks he went on to earn his juris doctorate from Oklahoma City University in 2010.
He admits that, while Ozarks prepared him extremely well for law school, it was difficult to learn how to think like a lawyer.
"It’s almost like starting over on how to learn. In law school, it’s less about memorization and more about interpretation," Northcutt said. "In nearly every class, you receive a published case. You have to read the case, find the rule of law and apply that rule to both the case and any hypotheticals the professor comes up with during class. Learning how to apply and analyze the law in fact situations is difficult."
While still in law school, Northcutt was a legal licensed intern with the Oklahoma City District Attorney’s Office.
After graduation, he began working for that same office as an assistant district attorney, prosecuting everything from DUI misdemeanors to violent felonies. Northcutt’s heart, however, was always in McAlester.
"I always wanted to go back to my hometown and practice law," he said. "I know I can make a difference in my community practicing law in McAlester."
At the Edwards Law Firm, Northcutt will handle a wide variety of cases, including criminal defense, family law, divorce, custody, personal injury, estate planning, probate, and social security disability.
He said he plans to stay at the Edwards Law Firm and in McAlester long term.
Topics: Alumni