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Matthew Brandon Trail

Matthew Brandon Trail

  • Education Law, Estate Planning, Family Law ...
  • Florida, Tennessee, Texas
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Biography

Matthew Trail has represented hundreds of children and parents across the state of Florida in IEP meetings, discipline referrals and due process complaints. As a former legal aid attorney, judicial clerk and Peace Corps volunteer, Matthew had dedicated his career to ensuring justice for those most in need.
Matthew grew up in Tennessee and received his undergraduate degree in 1999 in communications-journalism from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He worked for two years as a journalist in Texas and North Carolina before returning to Tennessee for law school.
After graduating law school from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2004, Matthew joined the U.S. Peace Corp and was stationed in Albania. While in the Peace Corps, Matthew worked on a variety of community projects with local NGOs assisting poor children and trafficking victims.
Upon returning to the United States, Matthew began work as a judicial clerk and then took a job with the Florida Equal Justice Center in Fort Myers and became admitted to practice in Florida in 2008.
While at the Florida Equal Justice Center, Matthew represented a diverse array of clients with problems ranging from domestic violence to immigration. Matthew’s focus however has always been in helping disabled and troubled children and teens in the education setting. He led a media and community campaign on behalf of behaviorally challenged students at the Royal Palm Exceptional Center and he has regularly lobbied the Florida State Legislature on behalf of his clients.

Education
University of Tennessee College of Law
J.D.
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University of Tennessee College of Law Logo
University of Tennessee - Knoxville
B.S. | Communication Journalism
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University of Tennessee - Knoxville Logo
Professional Experience
staff attorney
Florida Equal Justice Center
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Represent disabled foster children as court appointed attorney ad litem in dependency court and juvenile justice proceedings. Lobby on behalf of Florida legal aid programs to the Florida State Legislature both in district offices and at the Florida State Capitol. Created a coalition of community partners and developed a media campaign on behalf of behaviorally challenged disabled students that led to a significant reduction in involuntary commitments and arrests of mentally ill children. Represent disabled children to enforce federal special education rights by participating in individual special educational meetings, disciplinary hearings and filing federal and state complaints. Represent victims of domestic violence in divorce, custody and protective order proceedings Represent tenants in eviction and safe housing litigation. Supervise pro bono attorneys, legal interns, Florida Bar Foundation fellows and paralegal staff.
judicial clerk
Rutherford County Circuit Court
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• Responsible for examining court files, conducting legal research, drafting memoranda and opinions and making recommendations to the judge about pending cases. • Assisted the judge during trial and acted as court officer.
Professional Associations
Easter Seals Florida
Advisory Board Chair
- Current
Activities: Assist with organizational development, fundraising and recruitment for local chapter of international disability service non-profit.
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Florida
The Florida Bar
ID Number: 59578
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Tennessee
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Texas
State Bar of Texas
ID Number: 24098925
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Fees
  • Free Consultation
    1/2 hour
  • Credit Cards Accepted
    Visa, Mastercard
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    We charge sliding scale fees based on income.
Practice Areas
Education Law
Estate Planning
Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
Family Law
Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support, Father's Rights, Guardianship & Conservatorship, Paternity, Prenups & Marital Agreements, Restraining Orders, Same Sex Family Law
Immigration Law
Asylum, Citizenship, Deportation Defense, Family Visas, Green Cards, Immigration Appeals, Investment Visas, Marriage & Fiancé(e) Visas, Student Visas, Visitor Visas, Work Visas
Juvenile Law
Languages
  • Albanian: Spoken, Written
  • Spanish: Spoken, Written
Websites & Blogs
Website
Website
Contact & Map
Trail & Sommer Legal Services P.A,
P.O. Box 62279
Fort Myers, FL 33906
Telephone: (239) 244-1229