The islands hold a special place in Carla Higginson’s heart. She grew up between the Seattle area and Friday Harbor on her grandparents’ family farm homesteaded in 1872 by her great-great grandparents, where she now lives.

“As a young attorney, I could see that I would not be able to see my grandparents as much as I wanted, so I opened my office in Friday Harbor in 1980. I’ve never looked back,” she said adding that she got into law to help others.

“I wanted to help people when their lives end up intersecting with the legal system. I have been able to do this over the past 45 years by representing people in family law, criminal defense, civil lawsuits, land use, real estate, business matters, estate planning, probate, guardianships, and other legal issues in aging. It’s a lively and varied practice, and I have always been glad that I became an attorney.”

When asked what challenges she faced as a woman in the legal field, Higginson responded, “When I was in law school, 25% of my class was female. As a young attorney, it was often, surprisingly, older women who thought a woman should not be an attorney and told me so. I knew I had to work harder to prove that I could represent clients effectively. Now, the entering law school classes are over 60% female, and I suspect that there will come a time when there are more women than men working as attorneys. It is my sincere hope that the challenges they face in the practice are not based on gender.”

Today her office is located across the street from the courthouse where she handles matters in a variety of areas.

“People come to me for advice and assistance on a myriad of issues. The challenge is to stay up to speed on the many different areas of law that I handle, but it keeps me sharp and focused. The benefit of being a small-town attorney is that I have become the ‘family lawyer’ for many people,” Higginson said. “ I think it is comforting for people in the stressful situations that life brings them to be able to seek my help knowing that I have helped their parents or grandparents through their own tough times.”

For the first 30 years of her practice, she was a solo practitioner. Her business grew so much that in 2010 she joined forces with law partner Garrett Beyer. She is also serving her eighth term as president of the San Juan County Bar Association which is composed of attorneys in this county. “I am honored to have been chosen to head an association of so many competent and dedicated attorneys,” she said. As president, she organizes and runs the meetings, keeps informed about state and local issues that affect the practice of law and clients and interfaces with judges, elected officials and others on behalf of the association. “I feel fortunate to have been given the trust of my colleagues to place me in this position, and I take my responsibilities seriously,” Higginson noted.

Higginson also served as municipal court judge for the Town of Friday Harbor for eight years in the 1980s, until that court merged with the county District Court.

“I was 25 when my term started and was the youngest judge in the state. It was an experience for which I will always be grateful.”

But Higginson is not just about law. She is also a pilot. As a young private pilot, she founded the San Juan Pilots Association.

“Nearly 40 years later, that organization is thriving,” she said proudly.

She also helped found Hospice of San Juan. “Due to my grandmother’s kindness in providing to neighbors what is now called hospice care, I volunteered my legal services to help found Hospice of San Juan and have continued to serve as their attorney for the past 40 years.”

With her family’s long history on the island, Higginson has also played an active role in the San Juan Historical Museum. “I also am happy to have carried on my grandmother’s involvement with San Juan Historical Museum by serving as their volunteer attorney for decades.” She also studied classical voice for nine years with Elizabeth Burton and sang in community organizations. But law has been her passion and focus. “I enjoy the practice of law and expect to be around to serve our community for many, many years to come,” Higginson said.