Matthew was born and raised in Alaska.  He went to the University of Oregon from 2001-2005 where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science.  He received a TEFL Certificate in Seville, Spain and then spent time in Buenos Aires, Argentina teaching English.  Upon returning in 2008, he spent some time working as a finish carpenter in Washington State before attending Florida Coastal School of Law from 2009-2012.  Upon completion of a J.D., He moved to Salt Lake City and sat for the Summer '12 Utah State Bar and was admitted in the Fall of 2012. After spending several years in Utah, he waived into the Arizona State Bar and relocated to Phoenix to continue criminal defense work.