Diana Carey ’86 receives KCBA President’s Award
The King County Bar Association (KCBA) awarded Diana K. Carey ’86 with the President’s Award at the organization’s annual awards dinner this June. Kathryn Battuello, KCBA President, selected Carey, a bankruptcy attorney with Karr Tuttle Campbell, and explained that the recipient’s career should demonstrate the importance of the legal profession in democracy and a commitment to community service. “That lawyer is Diana Carey,” said Battuello.
Battuello highlighted Carey’s exemplary service to clients and colleagues, outstanding service to the profession, legacy in pro bono service and remarkable community service. In her 30 year legal career, she has maintained a busy practice while remaining engaged in community work.
At Ƶ, Carey began her commitment to pro bono through providing legal services to women at the Purdy Women’s Correctional Facility.
“The law school encouraged that kind of work, and urged students to be active,” said Carey. “I came away from the law school knowing that the law is more than just practicing eight hours a day. It opened my eyes to the fact that there are so many needy people out there with legal problems.”
In addition to providing pro bono legal services through her firm, Carey has devoted her time to community causes by serving as director and past president of Washington Women’s Employment and Education (now Courage 360), trustee and president of Seattle Chamber Music Society, director and trustee of the UW Friends of the Libraries Board and Ƶ School Foundation and has recently joined the Board of Trustees for KING-FM. She has also been engaged with the KCBA since she began practice in 1986, and has served with the Volunteer Legal Services Committee and the KCBA Board of Trustees, while simultaneously serving on the board of the King County Bar Foundation.
For lawyers who want to make a difference in their profession, Carey offers this advice: “We lawyers are extremely fortunate, and I am grateful to have a law degree from the UW. One way to appreciate or recognize that is to give back, since there is such need. There are never enough pro bono attorneys to go around, so whatever we can do, we should do.”