Owner, Cary Law Office, PLLC
By Samantha Cart
For Michael Cary, owner of Cary Law Office, PLLC, personal and career success are tied up in the importance of family, education and leadership. Born in Charlotte, NC, and raised in Charleston, WV, Cary is one of five children, and his parents and siblings have played a critical role in shaping who he is today.
“My parents kept me and my siblings involved,” he says. “I played basketball and soccer, took violin lessons and was on a gymnastics team. They were also strong advocates of education and believed in the old African proverb that it takes a village to raise a child, so I had the privilege of interacting with many people who played a positive role in my life and had the opportunity to meet many leaders in our society, including Dr. Leon Sullivan, attorney Johnnie Cochran, boxer Muhammad Ali and astronaut Jon McBride.”
Among Cary’s long list of positive role models is his father, Miles, who worked as an administrative law judge, which fueled his desire to study law. After graduating from West Virginia University (WVU) College of Law in 2011, Cary began his career in the education and energy law groups at Bowles Rice LLP.
“Starting out, I learned the true significance of the qualities I was taught as a child—the importance of integrity, having a strong work ethic, being able to work with others and being honest, trustworthy and organized,” he says. “I also learned to be passionate about what I do and to trust my own judgement.”
Learning to trust his own judgement paid off when he decided to start his own law firm in 2013, which he considers one of his greatest successes. While it took a personal leap of faith to strike out on his own, Cary credits his success to his family and their unwavering support.
“My sister, Randi, encouraged me to pursue my dreams and start my own law firm,” he says. “Without her encouragement, I would not have been afforded the opportunities I have today.”
Cary specializes in personal injury, criminal defense and consumer finance law and enjoys meeting the needs of his clients every day. “Now that I own my own practice, I have the ability to provide legal services to individuals in the Greater Kanawha Valley area while also giving back to a community that gave me so much in my adolescent years,” he says.
Giving back for Cary is an homage to his upbringing. While he enjoys paying forward what was given to him, he also chooses to serve organizations that highlight his parents’ passion for education. Cary currently serves on the board of trustees for University of Charleston (UC), visiting committee for WVU College of Law, board of governors for the West Virginia State Bar and board of directors for the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center. Cary also offers two annual scholarships through his practice: the Miles C. Cary Scholarship, which is awarded to a graduate of Capital High School who is planning to attend UC, WVU or West Virginia State University, and the Cary Law Office Scholarship, which is open to all incoming freshmen at any college or university located in West Virginia.
“I feel that once a person has reached a certain level of success, they should be more than willing to help others follow in their footsteps,” he says. “I give back and participate in local community service events because it was those same events and coaches I had growing up who inspired me to succeed. I want to help provide similar opportunities to the next generation.”
Cary is continually motivated by his obligation to represent his clients in the same way he would want to be represented.
“I am in a position to help people today only by the grace of God,” he says. “I work hard on behalf of my clients, and I want them to feel at the end of the day that they have received the best service possible.”
While Cary hopes to one day expand his practice into surrounding states, he feels fortunate to live and serve in the state of West Virginia, and he feels strongly about making it a thriving place for future generations. “West Virginia is a beautiful state,” he says. “With an increase in business and industry, we could attract more millennials to stay in the state. We are the future.”
