A Different Kind of Lawyer: Paul Cuccinelli, Class of 2025 | News | The Law School

Paul Cuccinelli, a young man with styled brown hair wears a blue and black plaid sport coat and white shirt, standing with his arms crossed and looking upward in front of a light-colored building.

For Paulie Cuccinelli, law school has been more than just earning a degree. It’s been about becoming the kind of person his brother could look up to.

His younger brother, Colin, is unable to walk or talk, as he was born with a rare form of epilepsy that causes him to have as many as 20 seizures a day. For Paulie, Colin is a source of both motivation and inspiration. “He is not only the happiest, but the toughest kid I know,” Paulie said.

Mark, Brendan, Nolan, and James Dolaghan—who are like brothers to him—were the first people he thought of upon receiving his acceptance in December 2022. Having grown up as Notre Dame football fans together, Paulie couldn’t imagine how he would face them if they found out he had turned down the chance to attend Notre Dame.

It was during his time during college bartending and waiting tables at the Hamilton Pork in Jersey City that he first began considering law school. Conversations with legal professionals while working in the restaurant opened his eyes to the ways his interest in finance could intersect with a career in law.

Paulie graduated a year early from Rutgers University with a degree in finance, earning magna cum laude honors. After college, he spent two years at Deloitte in the Risk and Financial Advisory group. Prior to starting at Deloitte, he worked the morning shifts at Wonder Bagel in Jersey City while dedicating his evenings to studying for the LSAT.

Two boys, one in a blue shirt and dark pants, the other in a plaid shirt and a blue assistive device, pose together. The first boy leans over, cupping his hand around the second boy's ear, and smiles. The second boy smiles back. — *Paulie and his younger brother, Colin*

At the Law School, Paulie dove into opportunities to lead, work, and learn. He became an assistant rector at St. Edward’s Hall, guiding undergraduates through their own college journeys. As an oralist on the Moot Court team and member of the Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy, he sharpened his public speaking and legal writing skills. Paulie also began working as a monitor for the Office of Academic Services for Student-Athletes. “What I valued most from my time at the ASSA was the opportunity to meet Pat Holmes and Adam Sargent, two individuals who have dedicated their lives to supporting athletes in the Notre Dame community. Seeing their commitment to Notre Dame and the impact they’ve had on others will continue to inspire me for years to come,” Paulie said.

During his 1L summer, Paulie was selected for the Dublin Honors Program and interned at Philip Lee LLP, a law firm in Ireland, where he gained experience working on cross-border legal matters. The following summer, he worked as a summer associate in the Restructuring Group at Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago, an experience that confirmed his interest in pursuing a career in bankruptcy law.

Paulie also had the opportunity to gain real-world judicial insight through two externships. In fall 2024, he externed for Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick at the Delaware Court of Chancery. Then in spring 2025, he externed for Judge Michael Kaplan at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, further deepening his experience in business and bankruptcy law.

Four young men pose for a photo. One wears a royal blue graduation gown with a lavender shirt and gold tie. He has his arms around the shoulders of two other men, one in a teal polo shirt and the other a black v-neck shirt. A younger boy in a black shirt and khaki pants stands to the left. — *Paulie and Mark, Brendan, and James Dolaghan, who are like brothers to him*

“These externships were incredible learning experiences,” Paulie said. “They helped me understand how judges think through issues and how lawyers can be more effective advocates.”

He credits professors like Professor Julian Velasco, who taught his Contracts and Business Associations courses, for having a great impact on his law school experience. “What makes Notre Dame unique is the people, and Professor Velasco is one of them.”

Now, as the first in his family to graduate law school, Paulie will be joining the Restructuring Group at Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago.

“It’s not just about what I’ve done. It’s about who’s come along for the ride,” he said. “Everything I do is shaped by everyone who I have met, both here at Notre Dame and back home in Jersey, who supported me along the way.”