The old adage is “home is where the heart is,” and Neil Kerr’s heart is at home.
The young attorney has given his heart to a bride this spring, they are living in their new home, and he is practicing law in his hometown.
The 1997 graduate of Russellville High School is practicing in the law firm Morgan and Williams, working with attorneys Corey Morgan and Ken
Williams. The office is located at 190 South Blakey, between the new justice center and Walgreens off East Fourth Street.
When he first came home after graduating from the University of Kentucky School of Law and passing the bar in 2006, Kerr began practice in Todd
County, working with the firm Dillingham, Ritchie and Petrie. Much of his practice was in Hopkinsville.
After members of that firm began going their separate ways, Kerr came back to his roots. The Lipscomb University graduate had interned under
Logan-Todd Circuit Judge Tyler Gill in the summer of 2004, and he spent much of 2008 as Gill’s staff attorney.
“That year was very helpful to me, especially after having been a practicing lawyer instead of having just come out of law school,” Kerr says.
“Judge Gill is honest and ethical, and he explained to me why he was making his rulings. It was like lawyers used to do it, spending time as an
apprentice. I feel well prepared as a result of that experience.”
He wasn’t certain what would be next for him and then everything fell into place. He was invited to be part of a firm of active young lawyers, he
met the woman he would marry, and they bought a home in his hometown.
“There were good things about practicing in Todd County because it was my grandparents’ home county, but here I know so many people. I see old
friends at stores, at church and in community activities. Many people know who I am because of my dad (Dr. Paul Kerr is a local dentist) and my
granddad (John Kerr was plant manager at Rockwell,” he says.
“I know that there are times when attorneys have to be involved in unpleasant situations involving people they know, but there are other times
when lawyers can provide many useful services for people in situations that have nothing to do with problems,” he says.
Kerr offers many services to potential clients. In addition to criminal defense, personal injury and real estate, he is interested in getting
into disabilities and social security issues. A list of some of his services appears in his ad, which can be found on the pages of the Logan Journal.
(Click on that ad, and information will appear.)
Meanwhile he is involved in a number of activities. He teaches law courses at Hopkinsville Community College, speaks and counsels at local school
functions, joins Williams and Morgan in providing free legal advice on WRUS’ Feedback monthly, takes leadership roles in Russellville Rotary
Club and attends his home church, Crittenden Drive Church of Christ.
Neil Kerr and the former Emily Darden were married April 1. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and is employed by the Barrow
Eye Center. They have moved into their new home in the Brookhaven subdivision and obviously enjoy spending time together.
“Everything has fallen into place for us,” he says. “It’s great to be practicing law in Logan County, not just near Logan County.”