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Matthew C Rist
About Matthew
Biography
Matthew Rist is a member of the bar in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and the United States Supreme Court. With nearly a decade of experience in the D.C. and Maryland courts, he has represented thousands of clients in cases ranging from DUI and traffic offenses to drugs and weapons offenses, theft and robbery, domestic violence, and homicide.
He offers representation to clients no matter where they live—whether residents of the metropolitan D.C. area or beyond—involving charges in the D.C Superior Court, as well as the Maryland District and Circuit Courts.
Matt is proud of being a Washington, D.C., native who attended Murch Elementary School, Edmund Burke School, and Deal Junior High School in the District. He graduated from Walt Whitman High School in Montgomery County, Maryland. He earned his B.A. in Philosophy from the renowned University of Pennsylvania. After graduation, and while working with young people at the Germantown and Northeast Frankford Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia, Matt realized he could better serve the many challenging needs of people of all ages by advancing his studies.
He earned an M.A. in Philosophy from the Universiteit von Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Then he enrolled in the James E. Rogers School of Law at the University of Arizona, attracted by its strong programs in Public Interest Law. His law school experience includes a term of study at the University of Puerto Rico and a clerkship with Judge Frank Dawley in the Pima County Superior Court, Tucson, Arizona.
After graduating law school, Matt returned to his home turf, sitting for and passing the bar in both the District of Columbia and Maryland on his first try each time. He pursued his strong interest in criminal defense by joining the Public Defender's Office in Baltimore, Maryland. As Assistant Public Defender, he defended a wide variety of criminal cases and managed a challenging caseload of more than 50 cases at a time. Following this strong experience, he opened his own law firm in 2010, defending cases in the District of Columbia and across the State of Maryland.
Matt is committed to providing strong, ethical, fearless defense for each and every client.
Practice Areas
3
Practice Areas
Criminal Defense
50%
22 years | 7,000 cases
DUI and DWI
35%
22 years | 1,000 cases
Domestic Violence
15%
22 years | 3,000 cases
Fees and Rates
Cost
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Maryland for 19 years
State: Maryland
Acquired: 2005
No misconduct found
Licensed in District of Columbia for 22 years
State: District of Columbia
Acquired: 2003
No misconduct found
Location
The Law Office of Matthew Rist PLLC
503 D St NW Ste 300, Washington, DC, 20001-2728
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Matthew C Rist's Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 6 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by anonymous | July 14, 2017 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Great Attorney
Mr. Risk was a great attorney to say the very least, he was very knowledgeable and attentive throughout the entire process. I highly recommend him!
Posted by anonymous | September 18, 2015 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Who do you want to call???
No one wants to be caught up in a jackpot. But if and when you do, you cannot do better than Matt Rist in a DC trial court issue. I lucked out. He happened to be there at my initial hearing on a motor vehicle operation arrest. I was clueless and suspicious when he approached me recognizing my lac...
Posted by Alona | September 8, 2015 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Great experience!
Mr. Rist so far is the best lawyer i have ever deal with.. He knows his job, he knows how to aggressively defend his clients.. just awesome experience! I was impressed by his work.. I do strongly recommend him.. And also a great person who will understand you very well!
Posted by Burl | September 12, 2013
Really good lawyers do really good things
Matthew Rist Aka (Matty Ice) is the best lawyers that I ever had in my life. “Really good lawyers succeed in part by pointing out (diplomatically) what facts the judge does not understand accurately, or by making an argument never tried before in a particular jurisdiction. Really good lawyers know th...
Posted by Brian | September 9, 2013
Stiff traffic penalties
I've known Matthew Rist for over 25 years so, when I was facing a traffic charge, driving an uninsured vehicle which carried a penalty of one year of imprisonment even though I wasn't the owner of the car, I sought his expertise in handling the matter. His service to me was exemplary. he was knowledg...
Matthew C Rist's Lawyer Endorsements
"I endorse this lawyer. Matthew Rist is an experienced, skilled and dedicated criminal defense lawyer. Top notch!"
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Matt is a high caliber DUI attorney whose courtroom skills and knowledge of the system have resulted in positive returns for his clients. I endorse this attorney."
"Highly skilled advocate! Matt Rist is a first class litigator and a champion for justice. I highly recommend him."
"Mr. Rist is a very intelligent and experienced criminal defense attorney. He works tirelessly and passionately on behalf of his clients. Mr. Rist is both aggressive and respectful in the courtroom and truly cares about his clients. Anyone facing criminal charges would be in very goods hiring Mr. Rist. I strongly endorse this attorney."
"Don't let the fact that he's a nice guy fool you. Mr. Wrist is a tireless advocate for his clients and their rights."
"I endorse this lawyer. Matt is a bulldog in the courtroom and aggressively fights for his clients. You are in very good hands with Matt in your corner."
"There are not words that do this fine lawyer justice. I could describe to you his courtroom style and masterful skill with a jury, but I assure you that my description would fall short. You have to see it to understand why Matt Rist is THE man to call if you find yourself afoul of the police. I have referred friends and family to him and will continue to do so without any hesitation. Knowing that he is there should anything bad happen is one of the only reasons I feel safe even going to D.C. If you need a lawyer in our nations capital, you can't afford not to hire Matt Rist."
"I endorse this lawyer whole heartedly. I have known Mr. Rist for over ten years. In that time I have seen him tirelessly advocate for his clients. Matt is a family man who understands completely the tolls that a criminal conviction, probation, and a possible term of incarceration can have on a client. He will fight to get you the best result, and if push comes to shove, he is excellent in trial. I have personally watched him try, and win, cases in front of juries that may have seemed hopeless at first blush. Trust Matt and he will guide you through. A good man and a consummate professional."
"Mr. Rist is a superlative attorney who constantly demonstrates an uncanny commitment to his clients. I highly recommend his services for anyone that needs quality legal representation."
"I endorse this lawyer. I have known Matthew Rist for over thirteen years. He is an amazing lawyer. I would recommend him to anyone who has been charged with any criminal or traffic offense. He is dedicated to his clients and to the pursuit of justice. I give him my highest recommendation."
"I would recommend Mr. Rist to friends or family without hesitation. I have been practicing with him for almost ten years and have seen him achieve great results for his clients time and time again. His dedication to his clients is inspiring. He is well versed in the law. In addition, he is honest and trustworthy."
"Matt is an excellent attorney. His trial skills are very sharp and so are his listening and advocating skills. He cares very much for his clients and fights hard for each and every one of them. The incredible efforts he puts forth are evident in the excellent results that his clients obtain. I highly endorse this attorney"
"It was my pleasure to serve as court appointed counsel with Matthew Rist at the Office of the Public Defender in Baltimore Maryland. There wasn't another attorney who cared more about their client's case. Mr. Rist was a tireless advocate for those who faced criminal charges, and I saw him stare down the government on more than one occasion. If I ever had a legal problem to attend to, Matt would be on my short list of attorney's to call. Highly recommended."
"Matt is an incredibly bright, articulate advocate for his clients. I've him for years and can attest to his competence. I recommend him without reservation."
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Experience
Work Experience
2010 - Present
Attorney, The Law Office of Matthew Rist PLLC
2004 - 2010
Assistant Public Derfender, State Of Maryland Office Of The Public Defender
Associations
2010 - Present
District of Columbia Superior Court Trial Lawyers AssociationMember
2005 - Present
Maryland State Bar AssociationMember
2003 - Present
District of Columbia BarMember
Education
2003
University of Arizona College of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
2001
Universiteit van Amsterdam International School for Humanities and Social Sciences
MA - Masters
1997
University of Pennsylvania
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
Arrested for APO and Unlawful trespassing while on probation.
09 Sep 2013
Q&A
My boyfriend is on active duty out of town for the military and he has a status hearing that he can't make. What should he do?
06 Sep 2013