Founding Partner Robert W. Kelley returned to his alma mater, Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law, to welcome the incoming Class of 2029. Bob, who graduated from NSU Law 45 years ago, was also presented with the NSU Law Distinguished Alumni Award.
He shared a message with the next generation of lawyers, a sample of which is here:
Somewhere out there right now is a person who’s going to need a lawyer in the future, and who doesn’t know yet that it’s going to be you. Maybe it’s someone that’s about to lose their freedom, or their home, or their child, or their life savings.
They’re going to walk into an office frightened and out of their depth, and they’re going to look across the desk at you and ask you to stand between them and something terrible. And that’s what this is all about. It’s not the grades. Although they’re good, it’s important. It’s not their rankings, it’s not the prestige, and it’s especially not the money.
Everything you learn here is in service of that moment when a real human being, on the worst day of their life, needs someone who knows what they’re doing and who will fight for them. You can be that champion. You can be that person for them that makes a difference in their lives.
I tell you truly, every morning when I wake up and put my feet on the ground as a trial lawyer, I cannot wait to get to the office. I cannot wait to see what adventure lies ahead.And so, class of 2029, before I sit down, if you will indulge me, I would ask all of you to just pause for a moment and look around your table. Look at your fellow classmates. Yeah, look at each other. And remember, on that day in the not too distant future, when you are finally sworn in as members of this honorable profession, that you will remember your lineage and the great lawyers and leaders who came before you. And you will never forget who we are and what we stand for.
We are the champions of justice. We are the guardians of this democracy. And we are needed now more than ever. May you all rise to the challenge and stay true to our calling of freedom and justice for all. Welcome to the law.”
Bob’s message to the Class of 2029 hasn’t changed from the one that’s carried him through decades in the courtroom: it was never about the prestige, the rankings, or the money. It’s about the person across the desk who needs someone on their side.
That’s the standard Bob set when he co-founded Kelley | Uustal Trial Attorneys. And it’s the one every attorney at this firm carries into the office and into the courtroom every single day.
Hear Bob’s full speech here.
