Paulette believes in practicing law with a heart and with an interest to represent the entire person during times of stress and uncertainty. Paulette has practiced extensively in Eastern North Carolina and the Outer Banks, as well as in the civil and criminal courts of the First Judicial District encompassing 7 eastern counties including Currituck, Dare and Hyde counties. She is licensed to practice in the State of North Carolina, and the US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Paulette received her undergraduate degree from East Carolina University with a BS in Sociology and a concentration in Marriage and Family in 1999. She was a volunteer crisis counselor for the REAL Crisis Center in Greenville. Ms Benz received her law degree from North Carolina Central University where she was a member of the law journal. Paulette grew up in New York and moved to the beautiful Outer Banks in 1990. She is married and has two children. She loves to spend time with family and friends at the beach, paddle boarding and kayaking in the sound.