Lacey Wheeler
Assistant District Attorney, Alcovy Judicial Circuit, Walton County
University of Georgia ’14, Georgia State University College of Law ‘17
Social Circle, GA
Lacey grew up in Covington, GA and was heavily involved in performance art and theater. “I started acting when I was in middle school.”
Upon high school graduation, she considered attending the University of Alabama, but instead decided to go to the University of Georgia. Because of the financial support the HOPE Scholarship gave her, she was able to live on campus and participate in several different organizations. “With the help of the HOPE scholarship, I was able to do all of the things that made my college experience so fruitful and so important. And it really let me enjoy all four years. I had a lot more opportunities. I had the ability to do a lot of things that would not have been an option for me otherwise.”
The support of the HOPE Scholarship also kept her from acquiring severe student debt in undergraduate school and was therefore better prepared to attend law school and pursue her career. “I can’t imagine what I would be going through financially if I hadn’t had HOPE in undergrad. I definitely couldn’t be doing the job I’m doing now, making the low-end of the spectrum for an attorney, but I love what I’m doing.”
A Performance Arts major, she says that her background in performance and theater has prepared her for her career as a courtroom prosecutor in tangible ways. “It’s a lot of thinking on your feet and improvisation. Having such a deep performing arts background has really helped me. Because now, standing in front of a group of people does not intimidate me.”
Lacey now works as an Assistant District Attorney in Walton County. Working with victims of crime and helping them deal with trauma is the most rewarding part of her job. “I get to meet them and talk to them and learn about their life. As I’m working with the victims, I try my best and use everything I can within the law to try and make them whole again. I get to watch them grow and heal and to be a part of that, it’s a beautiful thing. It’s emotionally tolling, but at the same time it makes you feel really good about the work you’re doing. I feel like I’m making a difference.”
Lacey lives in Social Circle with her fiancé and their dogs and cats.