State Rep. Trey Kelley sworn in as attorney by Judge Dan Winn
Polk County’s state representative is celebrating a big milestone in his career after he was sworn in last week as an attorney.
State Rep. Trey Kelley, who finished law school in May and just found out he passed the Georgia Bar exam, was sworn in last week by Judge Dan Winn.
Kelley said he found out the news about his test results during the middle of a judiciary committee meeting.
“My phone started blowing up with congratulatory messages,” he said. “I turned to the committee chair, who is also an attorney, and told him. He said ‘Well, congratulations,’ and a lot of people in the room were attorneys and understood the stress level, so they clapped for me and gave me a few minutes to call my wife first and then my parents. They were all on edge waiting for news as well.”
Kelley joins a long list of attorneys who serve at the state capitol who have already had the experience of keeping up their practice while serving during the 40 day legislative session.
Kelley said he believes he’s ready for the stress.
“It’s going to be another level of time management,” he said. “I’ve been watching over the past couple of years in the legislature, and my seat mate is an attorney, so I get to see how he manages his time. Seeing that helps me figure out how I’m going to manage my time.”
Kelley is practicing at Parker and Lundy law firm in Cedartown. Bill Lundy, who hired Kelley during the summer, said passing the bar and being sworn is always the first and most important milestone of any young attorney’s life.
“Most wouldn’t believe the effort it takes to stand where you are standing fo this memory worthy occasion,” he said dur- ing the swearing in ceremony.
Kelley said there was a “certain level of stress” waiting for the bar results, but that he’s been enjoying the work he’s done so far.
“Even if you feel good walking out of there, until you know it for sure and see that list with your name on it, you always have that fear in the back of your mind you’ll have to do it again,” he said. “Two days of strenuous testing is not something you want to go through again.”
He said too that practicing and seeing common people’s problems gives him a better understanding of how laws he’s helping to craft and pass in the legislature effect his clients.
“People come to you, whether it’s a client or a constituent, will come in or call you during one of their most stressful times in their lives,” he said. “They bring me issues and problems that help contribute to the overall understanding, and it goes both ways.”