Todd M. Wittmann Paralegal and Investigative Services

Personal Life

Todd M. Wittmann owns and manages Paralegal and Investigative Services. He operates three offices located in Provo, Utah, Edinburg and Corpus Christi, Texas. Todd specializes in child custody, guardianship, living trust, wills, adoptions, divorce and family law. The legal staff member also assists in sales and transactions, contracts, bankruptcy, personal injury claims, estate planning, litigation support, collections, and private investigations. Prior to running his own business, Todd was an Oklahoma City Police Officer in 1982. While he attended Oklahoma City Law School, the future paralegal worked at several law firms as a legal and law clerk intern who became knowledgeable in the areas of personal injury and family law, workers compensation, bankruptcy, corporate litigation, and real estate. Todd also assisted law firms as an investigator.

By 1990, after passing the Oklahoma Bar Exam, he became an associate attorney and eventually founded his own law practice in Oklahoma City. In 2000, after an unpleasant divorce, Todd was disbarred from the practice of law in Oklahoma. He soon entered the medical field of transcription and editing. During this time, the former litigator noticed that many people needed legal assistance and thought the best way to provide his services was by establishing his own paralegal company.

Todd was born in St. Joseph, Michigan and was raised in Evansville, Indiana, where he grew up with his dad, mom and sister. The paralegal received a B.A. in theology and earned his J.D. from Oklahoma City Law School. While enrolled at law school, Todd joined the legal fraternity Phi Delta Phi, an organization that only accepts student in the top twenty percent of their class. After law school, he focused on child custody trial cases and was a nominee for a municipal judge position.

When Todd isn't working, he enjoys tennis, biking and backpacking on top of Utah's mountains, which the paralegal described as “just incredible.” He loves Italian food and his favorite book is War and Peace, a novel written by Leo Tolstoy. Todd admitted, “Win, lose or draw,” he is a Chicago Bears fan.

Todd's Successful Business and Tips for Legal Staff Members

What was Todd's most memorable educational experience? The paralegal couldn't recall his law professor's name, but remembered the contract class he took while he was enrolled at Oklahoma City Law School. He stated, “It was my first year, first semester at law school. It was my contracts class. The professor never blinked and I didn't know what he talking about. I thought what the hell did I get myself into.”

Why did Todd become a legal staff member? He acknowledged that he was going through a messy divorce and when it became finalized he “tore up his law firm.” After the divorce, Todd was not legally allowed to practice the law as an attorney since he had been disbarred, but people contacted him because of his expertise and individuals needed his legal assistance. He couldn't say no.

The businessman did not transition into the law; he has been involved in the legal industry since 1982. He proudly served Oklahoma City as a police officer before he attended law school. He has over twenty years of experience handling all areas of the law. The former litigator was previously licensed to practice law in Federal Court in the United States District Court for Northern and Western District of Oklahoma (before his later disbarment in 2000). The paralegal declared, “People call me and say ‘you know a little about everything'” of the law.

So what is the best part of Todd's job? The paralegal answered, “Independence, I have a job that will always be there.” The legal staff member pointed out that twenty percent of individuals in Utah are filling out legal papers on their own and want to represent themselves. He believes attorneys are no longer the “go to guys” and that the paralegal industry is expanding. Todd added, “It's a good profession to be in.”

Why does Todd like working for himself? He explained, “Because I can say no. I don't have to have a reason. I have the freedom to say no, or I can't do it.” The former litigator said when he used to be an attorney and was employed in a cooperation he did not have the freedom to say no.

Todd discussed what he is known for professionally. He said he is known for his confidence and can explain things well. The legal staff member has a knack for opening the door to more information for his clients and when he finds a solution to their situation, he directs his clients on the right path.

What does the paralegal think about the legal field today? He asserted, “It's changing. It's a necessary evil.” The candid legal staff member stated that traditional lawyers are outdated. Todd explained that a traditional lawyer did his research and would present his case and argue in front of the judge, while the opposing lawyer would then argue his case in front of the judge. The paralegal continued to say, “now-a-days, you can pull information from on-line and it is so much cheaper than going to an attorney.”

What would Todd change about the legal market? He proclaimed, “There will always be a need for a district attorney to put the bad guys away and a defense attorney to keep things in check, but for contracts and divorces, attorneys will be phased out slowly and paralegals will pick-up the slack. Paralegal is now a profession. The stigma is now it is a mobile profession.”

Todd gave his opinion on the current assessment of the paralegal market. The legal staff member claimed, “As a paralegal, the market is unlimited and it is going to expand. It's changing for the better for paralegals.”

Since Todd believes the paralegal market is unlimited and going to expand, what is his best advice to new and recent legal staff members? He recommended, “Get as much training and certificates as you can. Go crazy with the area of law you love. Take as many seminars and training as you can and continue to update your education because the law is a living and breathing animal that changes.”

If earning certificates and taking seminars is the right path for new and recent legal staff members, what advice would Todd give to students contemplating on becoming a paralegal? He suggested, “Learn about general law as much as possible, but find a part of the law you love and learn about it. Whether you specialize in child custody, guardianship, living trust, wills, adoptions or family law. It's important for students to find their niche. You are more marketable if you have a niche.” Todd also recommends students to be familiar with computers. He added, “Knowing the computer is very important for paralegals. Know good cites from bad cites.”

Where does Todd see himself in five years? The legal staff member replied, “I will be doing the same thing. This is my dream job. I have no boss; I create my own process and procedures.”

If Todd wasn't a legal staff member, what would he be doing? He said, “I would have my own professional landscaping company and I would love every minute of it because I am making something and making it better.”

The businessman was asked why he found his position rewarding. The paralegal stated, “Because I am subject to everybody, but beholding to none. To be a man in charge is unique and rewarding in a way.”

Is there a downside to Todd's position? The former litigator said the only downside in his business is that he has to be careful about giving legal advice since he is no longer a barred attorney.

What motivates Todd? He answered, “Money doesn't motivate me. I make people happy when I am in a room.”

Non-Profit Organization, Volunteer Activities and Todd's Mentors

Todd is very active with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He described a number of volunteer activities the church is associated with, but one of the most significant humanitarian efforts was when the church quickly dispatched trucks from Salt Lake City to Louisiana in order to help with the Hurricane Katrina aid. Todd stated, “I am proud to be a part of that non-profit deal.”

The paralegal also volunteers his time speaking at church. He travels all over the state and country, speaking about religious differences. Todd is frequently called by religious groups such as Catholics and Baptists. Another cause he is deeply concerned about is the homeless. He claimed, “I have compassion for people in the streets.” Todd donates money to the homeless.

Todd has several mentors who encouraged him throughout his career, but he recalled two individuals who motivated him. As a police officer, he served on a special unit, where he met Christy, a personal injury lawyer who retained Todd as an expert witness in a civil case. Christy told Todd his testimony was so relaxed that he was a natural. She flatly told him he was not living up to his potential and should consider being a lawyer. Christy was the first person to inspire Todd and he soon applied to law school.

The legal staff member's second mentor was Michael Noah Brown, an attorney based in Oklahoma. Todd was a third year law student when Brown called him into his office. Brown complained about his brief and said, “You are form without substance.” The attorney trashed Todd's brief. The legal staff member said this event dramatically changed his life.

In July, 2012, Todd was sought out to work as in-house paralegal as Director of Legal at BizzBlizz, Inc., Orem, Utah where he currently works today. He continues to supervise his private paralegal services to make sure “It maintains its standard of quality as the business grows.”