Mike Carey’s legal career has been primarily focused on litigation.  After serving as a law clerk to the Honorable John A. Field, Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, he joined the United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of West Virginia in 1980.  As an assistant, Mike prosecuted cases involving public corruption, fraudulent tax shelters and violations of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act. 

In 1987, Mike was appointed by President Ronald Regan and confirmed by the United States Senate to be the United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia.  In that capacity, Mike supervised an office of twenty-five Assistant United States Attorneys and continued to personally try many cases.  In 1989, Mike was chosen West Virginian of the Year by the Charleston Gazette for his prosecution of public corruption. 

As United States Attorney, Mike was appointed to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee where he was elected Vice-Chairman by his peers.  In 1991, Mike was asked to serve as the Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General at the Department of Justice where he served as the primary adviser for criminal matters to the Deputy Attorney General of the United States.

In 1993, Mike left the government and started his own firm in private practice now known as Carey, Scott, Douglas & Kessler, PLLC.  Mike primarily works on cases involving commercial disputes, class actions, white collar criminal defense and governmental regulatory proceedings.  For more information, go to Mike’s resume.

Areas of Practice

• Civil Litigation
• Personal Injury
• Construction Law
• Internal Corporate Investigation
• White Collar Criminal Defense
• MSHA,OSHA,EPA etc.

Litigation Percentage

• 90% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

• West Virginia, 1979
• U.S. District Court Southern District of West Virginia
• U.S. District Court Northern District of West Virginia
• U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court

Education

• West Virginia University College of Law, Morgantown, West Virginia, May, 1979
  J.D.
  Honors: Graduated First in Class of 121
  Honors: Order of the Coif
  Honors: Phi Delta Phi Province III National Graduate of the Year
  Law Review: Law Review, Editor-in-Chief
  
  
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1976
  B.A. Economics
  Honors: Graduated with Distinction
  Honors: Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
  
  

Honors and Awards

• Selected West Virginian of the Year, Sunday Gazette Mail, Charleston, West Virginia, 1989
• Awarded United States Attorney's Flag by Attorney General Dick Thornburgh in Recognition of Prosecution of Public Corruption
• Attorney General's Award for Excellence in Management by Attorney General William P. Barr.
• Fellow, International Society of Barristers

Past Employment Positions

• Carey, Hill, Scott, Winter & Johnson PLLC, Partner, 1993 - 1999
• So. Dist. of WV, Presidentially Appointed United States Attorney, 1986 - 1993
• Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General, Principal Advisor, 1991 - 1992
• So. Dist. of WV, Assistant United States Attorney, 1980 - 1986
• Law Clerk, Hon. John A. Field, Jr., Senior United States Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 1979 - 1980

Pro Bono Activities

• Coach of the West Virginia University Lacrosse Club
• Honor Court
• VPI Intercollegiate Lacrosse Team

Birth Information

• 1954