William E. Paterson graduated from UCLA with a degree in history in 1961. After receiving a teaching credential from UCLA the following year, Bill became a teacher in Los Angeles. He returned to UCLA in 1964 where he received his law degree in 1967. While at the UCLA School of Law, Bill was a member of the Board of Editors of the UCLA Law Review.

Bill and his wife Colleen moved to Ventura in 1967. Bill spent the next two years with the Ventura County District Attorney's office where he was both a felony trial deputy and appellate supervisor. He entered private practice in 1969 with Ferguson & Regnier. He became a partner in Ferguson, Regnier & Paterson in 1972 and was with that firm until 1990, when the current firm of Ferguson Case Orr Paterson LLP was formed.

Bill has practiced in nearly all areas of business litigation. His current focus is on real property, business dissolution, employment, and trust disputes. He also acts as a private mediator and arbitrator. Bill has served as a past president of the Ventura County Legal Aid Society and is currently a board member of El Centrito de la Colonia, a grass roots community literacy and outreach program.

Out of the office Bill's primary interests are travel, hiking, film, reading, working out and spending time with his grandchildren.