Paul E. Proto was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut. He earned his B.S., cum laude, at Providence College and his J.D., cum laude, from Western New England University, School of Law. He was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1988 and to the U.S. District Court, District Of Connecticut in 1989. He is a Member of the American Bar Association (Section Member – Business Law, Real Property, Taxation); Connecticut Bar Association (Section Member – Commercial Law and Bankruptcy, Corporations and Other Business Organizations, Taxation); and the New Haven County Bar Association.