Mena, AR

I was born and raised in Conway, Ark. I attended the Methodist Church, was involved in the Boy Scouts, played whatever sport or hunted and fished whatever critters were in season. I mowed yards, collected pop bottles and played pool or poker. Then, I started working at 15 and worked pretty much full time through college and law school. I was a retail clerk, worked at grocery stores, summer stock theatre, welding, as ski binding technician and then as a law clerk. I graduated from Conway High in 1975 and Hendrix College in 1979. Then I headed to the University of Arkansas Fayetteville Law School 1983. In law school, I oversaw the student Legal Clinic and Prison Project organizations and was President Phi Alpha Delta frat. Other professional milestones were Bar admissions: Arkansas 1983, US Federal District Court 1985, US Supreme Court 1988. After cutting my teeth in the Public Defender’s Office for about 2 years, I founded a firm with a couple of others in the mid-’80s. There I handled major crimes, multimillion-dollar commercial transactions, personal injury, estates, family law, small business, real estate; you name it. I had a great run for 30 something years with Partners and a team that is still going strong. As I approached 62 for some reason, I took a deep dive in deciding what to do with the time that was left. Do I travel, golf, garden and the like? Sounds okay. Do I run for Judge, go into Children’s Advocacy, sell real estate, open a drive-in movie theatre, do volunteer work? Doesn’t seem too bad. I thought hard about my options and took counsel with family, friends, and colleagues. Kevin Hickey was one. I’ve known Kevin for years and admired the work he and his firm has done. He is smart, skilled, conscientious and has put together a likeminded team with a vision. As Kevin and I talked that day I realized that I still love practicing law. The give and take of dealing with lawyers, judges, juries and, most of all, working with the Client. What Kevin proposed left me with no management duties, no overhead responsibility, no marketing decisions, none of the countless, critical things one does to keep a firm moving forward but has nothing to do with actually practicing. My one and only job here would be to represent the Client. Bingo! Jackpot! Now you’re talking baby! Here’s the thing, no client in my experience ever came to me because they wanted to be there. If you are going to a lawyer it is because you have a very real problem, often a crisis. The Chinese word for crisis is two symbols, one for danger, the other for opportunity. What I get to do for a living, is learn what it is you are facing, then use the right tools at the right time to avoid the dangerous path and move forward toward opportunity. I’ve done this a long time and the most rewarding part of the job is knowing I’ve helped someone get through the rough spots in life. Come see me when you need to. If you’re all in, I’m all in.

I knew from a young age that I would probably become a lawyer. Unfortunately for the adults in my life, I always enjoyed a good debate. Like many attorneys, that is where my interest in a legal career began. People generally associate arguing with attorneys. For better and worse. While that is not an unfair connection, I learned quickly in law school that a successful, rewarding legal practice requires much more than a fondness for argument. I attended law school at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. During my time there, my professors reminded me repeatedly of the need for lawyers to be able to read and write effectively. After law school, I joined a national labor and employment law firm in their Atlanta office. There I got more experience with reading and writing than I could have ever wanted. The firm had hundreds of attorneys, and as a young associate, I spent the bulk of my time researching and drafting documents. When my wife and I decided to move back home to Arkansas, I knew that I wanted to join a smaller firm. I was happy with all that I learned working at a big firm, but I wanted an opportunity where I could start working directly with clients sooner rather than later. My experience with a larger firm taught me a lot of skills. It also taught me not to take relationships with clients for granted. I was very happy to find a firm that allowed me to work with clients _and_ understood the value of client service. With Hickey & Hull Law Partners, I have been able to help clients in a wide range of cases. I have represented clients in a variety of criminal, and civil litigation (e.g. breach of contract, property disputes, employment discrimination, and personal injury), and domestic matters. We’ve handled domestic cases that include divorce, custody, grandparent’s rights, DHS, and adoptions. Family law cases are not always easy, for a number of reasons, but as an attorney, it is humbling to have a client trust me to handle such an important case. Our firm often uses the hashtag, “thingsareabouttogetbetter”. My goal for every client is to do just that, make things better. At the end of the day, the most rewarding part of the job is knowing that we have helped make a client’s life better. Lawyers are not magicians. We cannot fix everything, and we rarely can promise any certain results. But I can work diligently on your case. I can care about your case. And I can keep you informed and up to date with your case. That is the promise that I do make with clients. Outside of the office, I spend most of my time with my wife, Erica, and daughter, Anna. I am a terrible golfer but enjoy playing. My daughter enjoys driving the golf cart. Neither of us drives very well on the course. I love all things basketball and consider myself a hoop head. I know this to be true because of how much I enjoyed coaching a first grade girls basketball team.

Justice and injustice have always fascinated me. How our legal system arrives at deciding what is just, and unjust, has likewise captivated me for most of my life. It was during my junior year at the University of Southern California, during an upper-level philosophy class of all places, that the seed was planted that would lead me to follow the law as a profession. The class was Philosophy of Law and during that semester we discussed numerous scenarios, hypotheticals, and situations that would always result in some type of legal ramification. At some point during that semester, it hit me - the law touches every part of our lives. I knew at that moment that I wanted to be part of something that was so important, and could be used to help so many people. For years I practiced as a solo practitioner. When you practice as a solo you are essentially throwing yourself to the wolves. You have to learn everything on your own and by jumping in with both feet. I became a legal sponge, studying the law every chance I had. I wrote articles and blog posts (still do). I would hang out at the courthouse and watch jury trials and hearings to learn everything that I could from other more seasoned lawyers and judges. I had two or three older attorneys that were great mentors to me. Still do actually, because the law is an ongoing endeavor - ever-changing. At one point in my career, I chose to be part of a couple of law firms. I worked with some good attorneys and had some great experiences. But the gravity of having my own firm, and running it the way that I felt was best, always tugged at me. So I decided to go back to having my own office. But this time it would be different. I wanted a firm with highly motivated lawyers and support staff. A firm that excels at client service and makes sure the clients know that we are there for them throughout their case. We would strive for consistent client communication to keep them informed of what was going on in their case every step of the way. And we would be skilled in the courtroom. After nearly 17 years of practice and vision, Hickey & Hull Law Partners is that firm. I am proud to say that I believe our team will provide you with the best legal representation in the state. We are constantly working to better our firm and the experience that our clients have with us. We hope to hear from you and we look forward to being of service. When I’m away from Hickey & Hull Law Partners, my wife Nicole and I love to entertain friends at our home. I am an avid cook so you will many times find me in the kitchen. Our three children, Brady, Ridge, and Aryn, keep us busy with their athletics (baseball, football, basketball, and soccer) and we couldn’t be prouder of them. Their friends also make themselves at home at our house many nights of the week. Some of our happiest times are when we have a houseful of kids. We also love to travel when we can and post our adventures on social media. I guess I should mention (or Nicole will kill me) we actually do have one other child. He is our French Bulldog Chico and is most certainly the boss of the house. It is rumored that Chico has his own [Instagram page (Chico Hickey)](https://www.instagram.com/chicohickey/).

My two great loves have always been the land and the law. I am a native of South Louisiana and the proud son of an American farmer, but my talents are in speech, writing, and thinking.Changing times and my own black thumb made it pretty obvious where my life was heading. My teachers always told me I would either be the Pope or the President. While neither of those are in the cards, the dedication, drive, compassion, and hard work those roles require are all skills you need to have as a lawyer. After earning my Bachelors in Philosophy, I spent a year working as a bank teller for Wells Fargo in Butte, Montana. For a time I thought I would go to law school up there, but the first snowfall in June convinced me I belonged in the south. After some research, I settled on the University of Arkansas for my law degree and have worked to make this state my home. Since then, I have fallen in love with the culture, people, and natural beauty of this state. I chose Arkansas to be closer to my family, but also because of the law school’s unique opportunities. The University of Arkansas is one of the few places in the country with an advanced program in Agricultural & Food Law. Considering my background, it was a no-brainer. Before starting law school I set my eyes on certain goals: get my degree, pass the bar, take advanced studies in agricultural law, and never lose touch with my roots. Along the way, I gained some valuable experience clerking at the Fayetteville City Prosecutor’s Office and representing clients in the law school’s Civil Litigation and Advocacy Clinic. I also interned with the USDA's Office of the General Counsel and have extensive research experience in natural resource programs, federal air and water regulations, food marketing and labeling, and other aspects of agribusiness. So far, we’re doing pretty good. Now that most of the goals are in the rearview, it’s time for new goals and a new set of challenges. Hickey & Hull Law Partners presents these new goals and challenges: become a seasoned professional, help people who need it, carry on the firm’s reputation for success, and of course, never lose touch with my roots. I am excited to work with some excellent attorneys as I continue growing personally and professionally. I remain open to new experiences and new opportunities to use my dedication, drive, compassion, and hard work to serve you. Whether your issue is new or one we’ve seen a thousand times, I will give you the attention, care, and time you deserve. Outside the office, I continue to pursue my LL.M. Degree in Agricultural & Food Law, which I anticipate completing in May. At home, my wife Aleksandra and daughter Poppy keep me plenty busy. We look forward to growing our family and making a home in Northwest Arkansas. I like to garden, despite not being very good at growing anything. We’re big foodies, and I love to cook every chance I get. I’m also a trivia buff, Aleksandra gets tired of me shouting at Jeopardy like other people shout at college football.