Hale sworn in as new attorney

PRESCOTT – Ben Hale, a 1995 graduate of Prescott High School, was sworn in as a new attorney Tuesday afternoon at the Nevada County Courthouse.

Judge Duncan Culpepper presided over the swearing in ceremony as family and friends watched. Hale’s mother, Kim, said she was about to cry during the proceedings.

Hale graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 2009, and from the UA law school in 2015. However, after graduating college with his Bachelor of Science in Economics, he tried his hand at running a business based on a backpack he’d designed and been awarded a patent on.

His first partner was in China, but the venture didn’t work out, so Hale sought another partner, finding one in South Carolina. However, he soon learned the business wasn’t going to succeed and decided to take the bar exam. Starting in Nov. 2017, he studied for three months, taking and passing the bar in Feb. 2018, and passing the ethics portion last month.

Initially, at least, he plans on working with his father’s practice, the Hale Law Firm. Hale said the firm needs to be organized and modernized and he plans on setting it up as a LLC. When asked what his plans were, he said, “I’m open to anything. I’d like to stay in Southwest Arkansas.” His father, Gene, said he’d be glad to have Ben work with him if that’s what he wants.

After living in China, Portland, OR, and South Carolina, where he didn’t know anyone, Hale said when you’re from a small town and know everyone it makes a difference and you appreciate it more – especially after having been away a while. He pointed out he knew everyone who showed up for his swearing in.

He plans on practicing general law, but said while in law school he took classes on trial advocacy and all the drafting classes he could. The drafting classes, he said, will help as he can arrange businesses for others who are thinking about opening a business of their own.

“What an attorney should do,” he said, “is help his community prosper and not be an obstructionist.”

“I’m happy,” his father said, “and thankful for all the blessings we’ve received. I’d be glad to have him work with me if he wants.”

His mother said, “I’m excited for him, and proud. I think he’ll be a wonderful lawyer. He has a good heart.”

While Hale has no plans on getting involved in politics at this time, he was involved while at the UA, where he served as student body treasure and was on the college senate.