Paul Gallegos was born in Arlington, Virginia. The ninth of eleven children, Paul was raised in a family that taught personal responsibility and a dedicated work ethic. It was this work ethic that Paul took into his adulthood.

After high school, Paul attended the University of Southern California where he earned a BS in Economics. This led to his return to his home state of Maryland; where he worked for the IBM Corporation. However, unfulfilled in his life of crunching numbers, Paul decided to return to college—he returned to Southern California to attend LaVerne College of Law.

During his time at LaVerne, Paul clerked at the Los Angeles and San Bernadino District Attorney's Offices. After being admitted to the California Bar Association, Paul went into private practice.

Paul’s love of nature and desire to seek ever increasingly difficult challenges would lead him to Humboldt County as a circuit defense attorney. During his first days here, Paul was taken aback by the natural beauty of the area. This admiration for the majesty of Humboldt County, would lead to the Gallegos family moving to Eureka.

Following their move here, Paul and Joan opened another Law Office, Gallegos and Gallegos of Eureka. This office put Paul in the position to defend his clients at all levels of misdemeanors as well as felonies. It was through the success of this office that Paul was able to translate his now extensive experience in practicing law into his first run for Humboldt County District Attorney. The first campaign, in early 2002, would prove to be a true underdog story of success—as he unseated the twenty year incumbent, Terry Farmer.

In the, almost ten months, between his election and swearing in, the Humboldt County District Attorney’s budget would be cut nearly in half. Undeterred, Paul assumed his new role with his long standing adherence to personal accountability and diligent work ethic. He would face a MAXXAM funded recall election just months after taking office, though he proved successful yet again.

We, the people of Humboldt County, voted overwhelmingly to keep Paul Gallegos as our District Attorney.

His first four years in office would see a complete reorganization of the DA’s office—a modernization that would prove to dramatically increase office efficiency and enabled his office to overcome the dramatic budget and staff cuts, to maintain and improve the success of the Humboldt County District Attorney’s office. Paul spent the rest of his first term, and his second term creating a team of attorneys and investigators who have proven their value and ability time and again—including receiving state wide as well as national awards for their hard work.

His successes would lead to his re-election in 2006 and the continuance to his dedication to the people of Humboldt County. Now, after two terms, he has reshaped the office and it is effectively working at full capacity for all of Humboldt County.