. ♪ [ music ] >> reporter: we first met benny joe mackey in 991. is home video of him on stage at palo alto high. >> benny joe mackey. >> reporter: then we caught up with him graduating from santa clara university law school. ♪ [ music ] >> reporter: the family in east palo alto celebrated that. but this was the real celebration. august 2011, bennie joe mackey waiting to be sworn in as an attorney. it took some persistence. but he finally passed the, quote, dreaded california bar exam. >> really it's a testament to all of you here, to his wonderful mother and his grandmother. >> reporter: his mom and grandmother were both there with the rest of the family from east palo alto and some old friends. >> you have risen above poverty, above race, in one of the toughest neighborhoods in the bay area. you're a student rising above, now you are a lawyer rising above. [ applause and cheers ] >> reporter: five years ago, his partner introduced him to kamala harris now the attorney general of california. she came to do the honors. >> the bottom line is this is

n]♪ >> reporter: we first met benny joe mackey in 1999. is home video of him on stage at palo alto high. >> benny j mackey, ii. >> reporter: then we caught up with him graduating from santa clara university law school. n]♪ >> reporter: family in east palo alto celebrated that. but this was the real celebration. august 2011, benny joe mackey, waiting to be sworn in as an attorney. it took some persistence, but he finally passed the, quote, dreaded california bar. >> really it's a testament to all of you here to his wonderful mother, bonnie, and his grandmother, florence. >> reporter: his mom and grandmother were both there with the rest of the family from east palo alto, and some old friends. >> you have risen above poverty, above race, in one of the toughest neighborhoods in the bay area. you are a student rising above. now you are a lawyer rising above. [ cheers & applause ] >> reporter: five years ago, his partner -- now the attorney general of california. she came to do the honors. >> the bottom line, and that is a sign of strength and

benny j. mackey the second. >> reporter: we caught up with him graduating from santa claira university law school. the family in east palo alto celebrated that,but this was the real celebration. august 2011, benny joekey waiting to be sworn in as an attorney. it took some persistence but he finally passed the, quote, dreaded california bar exam. >> it's a testament to all of you here and his wonderful mother, bonny. >> reporter: his mom and grandmother were both there with the rest of the family from east palo alto and some old friends. >> you have risen above poverty, above race, in one of the toughest neighborhoods in the bay area. you were a student rising above. now, you are a lawyer rising above. >> reporter: five years ago, his partner, tim falard, inched him to come here, now the attorney general of california. she came to do the honors. >> the bottom line is this is a sign of strength and leadership and you know what you're capable of, inspite of whatever odds other people may think you face, and you know that you can achieve. >> reporter: and then it was time. >> i, benny joe mackey the second, to the best of my knowledge and ability. >> welcome to the profession. >> i am -- i am excited a