Brief Biography

After receiving a J.D. from Duke Law School with an M.A. from Duke University, Matt Lavine served as a judicial clerk for the Hon. John J. Garrity of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.

Following the clerkship, Lavine simultanteously maintained a contract with the Maryland Public Defender trial division and with a small law firm that specialized in real estate and zoning matters. With the former, Lavine achieved substantial success in defending indigents accused of crimes. With the latter, Lavine litigated multi-million dollar commercial real estate disputes.

Opening his own office in 1988, Lavine focused on criminal defense and civil rights. In defending one client, he succeeded in establishing that the University of Maryland Police Department's use of a permanent roadblock was unconstitutional. In a federal case, he demonstrated that a public school district's discipinary system violated the Constitution.

Lavine has been practicing law in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and the Federal Courts for over twenty years. He has also worked as a consultant helping law firms and law schools to improve the productivity of their lawyers and law students. He is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of Maryland's University College.