MATTHEW BRAUN

Maryland Legal Aid

Matthew Braun has been a supervising attorney at Maryland Legal Aid’s Prince George’s County office since 2023, following four years as a staff attorney in the same office. His practice encompasses family law, consumer rights, public benefits and criminal record expungements.

A 2019 graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law, Braun was the 2018 Public Interest Fellow, as part of which he clerked for Maryland Legal Aid’s Baltimore City office in the Community Lawyering Initiative. He served as the 2024-2025 chair of the Pro Bono Committee for the Maryland State Bar Association’s Young Lawyer Section.

Braun’s path to law began during an internship with the Charles County Public Defender’s Office, where he witnessed firsthand the difference that having an attorney makes for parties in the legal system. That experience drove him to pursue a career providing representation for those who otherwise would not have one.

Looking ahead, Braun aims to remain in public interest and pursue impact litigation targeting systemic problems that Marylanders face. “I also hope to pair impact litigation with policy advocacy and community education to achieve outcomes for Marylanders that are more lasting than a single court win,” he said. He also aspires to take on cases to shape civil rights, government accountability and consumer protection, and to train new attorneys to be capable and confident in thoroughly assisting clients with all the issues they might face — such as the client simultaneously denied Social Security disability benefits while facing home foreclosure.

In his current supervisory role, Braun manages case assignments while working to balance the needs of potential clients against staff caseloads. He has implemented an open-door policy and communicates directly with staff before assigning cases, a system he credits with helping more potential clients.

Outside the office, Braun works to make the path into law more transparent and less intimidating — especially for those who do not already have lawyers in their networks. He makes time for conversations about what law school entails and what public interest practice actually looks like, connects prospective attorneys to clinics, bar associations, pro bono opportunities and private attorneys with required expertise, and participates in Maryland State Bar Association events, including presentations at the MSBA Summit.

An avid soccer fan who played the sport in college and has attended professional matches in six countries, Braun is looking forward to cheering on the USA at this year’s World Cup.