Derek Matthews (Vinson Class, 2017) is no stranger to giving back to Cooley Law School in the Tampa Bay region. Outside of legal practice, Matthews sponsors the annual Cooley Alumni Golf Outing in Tampa and participates in alumni events and mentoring programs to build relationships with faculty and fellow graduates.
But these Cooley events are only a small piece of his helping Cooley Law students become practice ready attorneys. Since establishing his own private practice in January 2024, Matthews has made it a personal mission to mentor and train Cooley graduates as they begin their path in the legal profession.
Matthews explained that Cooley took a chance on him when he began law school, and now it’s his turn to give back and empower novice attorneys from the same institution that helped him get to where he is today.
“Cooley did an amazing job preparing me, not only for the bar, but for practice beyond the tests,” he said. “The combination of instructors who were prior leaders in the field and professors who could teach the black letter law in a practical way was perfect for me.”
Matthews has been working with Cooley interns since he became an attorney himself. He often worked alongside Cooley students during their internship/externship experiences while at the firm he was with before going out on his own. Now, several of those former interns are following their dreams – working either for the district attorney’s office, as public defenders, or in private practice in the Tampa Bay area.
“These fine representatives of Cooley add to our growing network of outstanding attorneys in the Tampa Bay area,” Matthews said. “Cooley students are the attorneys who I see in the criminal courtrooms, on the other side in divorce cases, by referral sources for many clients, and who I refer out for other facets of law that my firm doesn’t provide. I want the group to be as well prepared as possible, and any impact I can make towards that end, I am more than willing to make.”
At Matthews’ law firm, two current attorneys are Cooley graduates and huge assets to the firm, he said.
“I could not do the work without them,” Matthews said. “They’re the workhorses of the firm — delivering superior legal research and drafting, and helping with hearings and trials. They’re learning every day and making a difference for our clients.”
Matthews says Cooley students stand out for their drive and readiness to practice.
“Cooley students are hungry to learn and motivated to become independent attorneys when they graduate,” he said. “They come from varied backgrounds with unique experiences that make them effective from the moment they walk into the office.
“The professionalism I see from Cooley grads in court is gratifying,” Matthews added. “The civility and knowledge they demonstrate in court shows me that these are attorneys who learned well and have taken the lessons at Cooley to heart.”
“Cooley Law School took a chance on me, and through their thorough instruction and wide network, I came out ready to practice,” said Matthews. “This is a school where you can work hard, learn, and be successful. I will always be grateful to Cooley and the professors who got me to where I am today. It is my hope that I can do the same for the next generation of Cooley students.”
This article also appears in the Winter 2025 issue of Benchmark Magazine.
