Diane is passionate about helping families. After graduating from Gustavus Adolphus College and attending her first year of law school at The University of Michigan, she began working at Washtenaw County Legal Aid in Ann Arbor. Her clients were the subjects of some of the earliest studies of battered women, and she is still active in educating lawyers and others about domestic violence and coercive control.

Diane spent a total of 25 years in legal aid programs, representing low income persons in all kinds of family law cases, specializing in the most difficult, high-conflict cases. Diane has headed the family law group at Carney Appleby Law for over a decade. She handles all types of family law cases — divorce, custody, support, guardianship, modification. Diane is a Mediator, qualified to mediate complex custody and divorce issues as well as guardianship/conservatorship cases.

As a Parenting Coordinator, she tries to see families from the children’s viewpoint and then work with parents to identify their strengths and solve problems collaboratively. Diane is enthusiastic about the collaborative approach to handling family law problems, allowing families to maintain control of their lives. She a frequent presenter on family law topics at continuing legal education events.

In addition to her work as a lawyer, Diane facilitates a continuing care group at Powell Chemical Dependency Center, organizes adult classes at Urbandale United Church of Christ, and has served on the Walnut Street School PTO. She is a member of the Polk County Bar Association Family Law Committee, is the Legislative Chair of the Family & Juvenile Law Section of the Iowa State Bar, and served on the Iowa Supreme Court Family Law Reform Task Force.

She was a licensed foster parent. has been certified in Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid, and is a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals as well as the Central Iowa Academy of Collaborative Professionals.