Paul Anthony Dillon was born at Rockhampton and educated at the Sisters of Mercy Convent Koongal, Christian Brothers College and the North Rockhampton State High School. Paul joined the Commonwealth Public Service in 1965 and left in 1986. He held a wide variety of clerical/administrative positions in various departments of state. Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts (Asian Studies) degree from the Australian National University, a diploma of Law from the Supreme Court of New South Wales and was called to the Bar of New South Wales on 23 May 1986. He has practised as Barrister at Law in the Criminal Division of the superior courts of Queensland at Townsville for twenty years as counsel for the accused. He retired from the Law in 2005.