What began as inspiration from a TV show soon laid the foundation for a successful legal career. As a child, Matthew Bothwell often watched LA Law with his parents — little did they know, their evening routine would shape his future. Today, Matthew Bothwell is a successful Shareholder in our KD Jacksonville office. However, his path involved a lot of grit, determination, and even a little bit of psychology.

During college, when he wasn’t guarding the net as a Division 1 soccer player, Matthew developed a deep curiosity for psychology and human behavior. However, after a chat with his counselor, he ultimately opted for a career in law in which he envisioned a higher return on investment. Being a naturally strong student in the world of academia, attending law school and taking the Bar exam were a no-brainer for him. He just knew he had to do it, so he did.

Despite the career choice years ago, it seems that his background in psychology still presents itself in subtle yet meaningful ways throughout his career. For Matthew, the most gratifying part of being an attorney is helping clients navigate the emotional distress and uncertainty of legal matters. More importantly, he relishes the fact that clients can come to him with panic and by the end of the conversation, they are at ease thanks to his guidance.

Perhaps Matthew’s strength in psychology plays a role, but more importantly, his ability to break down complex legal matters into clear, digestible terms sets him apart. By the same token, this gets enhanced with the open communication line that clients working with him can expect to get. In fact, Matthew admits that having a loaded inbox is one of his pet peeves, so if someone emails him, they’re in luck because he will probably respond within 24 hours.

For Matthew, thought-provoking challenges are part of the job. As a defense attorney in an adversarial environment, he believes every case presents unique obstacles. Faced with a pivotal career decision, Matthew had two options: move out of state and join a start up law firm, or return home to Jacksonville. He chose the latter — and to this day, he stands by his choice.

That decision opened doors to diverse opportunities, allowing him to handle cases ranging from wrongful death, to multi-million dollar construction claims, to bankruptcy, and even family law. This breadth of experience, he believes, makes him a versatile lawyer since it gives him the ability to look at a case from many angles.