This is currently a part-time position (15-20 hrs), but it’s likely that the position will transition into a full-time role.

Apply by email: mrich@northfieldlaw.com.

“All my friends were going to different schools.” said Rich. “I made up my mind about college when I arrived at Gustavus Adolphus College without an appointment and they treated me so well. They gave me a free T-shirt, a tour of the campus and set me up with three people to talk with. I enrolled and met my wife the first day I moved into the dorm. I had a box in my hands and there she was, a Northfield native, Leah Whitworth.”

Rich majored in Communication Studies and Political Science at Gustavus.

He attended William Mitchell College of Law. That journey of law school started with a bump in the road.

“I sent in my registration papers on deadline, filled in timely,” Rich said. “But there was a mix-up at the Gustavus mail room. All of the applicants from Gustavus got a notice back that the spots were filled, there was no room in law school for them.”

Rich wasn’t prepared to hear that news.

“Six of us had applied,” said Rich. “I had no other options because I’d turned down my other offers. I exchanged e-mails and calls with admissions at the college. I said I don’t care if I have to sit on the floor to attend classes.”

His perseverance paid off. He spent the first year in the night section.

“They got me in,” Rich said. “The classes were really geared toward the working person. I didn’t care. I learned more about the real situations in life and gained more from other student perspectives. I heard things like, ‘in real life, this does not apply.’”

Rich and Whitworth were married the second week of the second year of law school by Northfield Pastor Joseph Cripper on a Saturday. It was back to class on Monday for Rich.

Rich graduated from law school in 2008. The couple knew they wanted a family life and Rich was looking for a small firm with his applications out in the Minneapolis area.

His job came along through a volunteer involvement.

Both Matthew and Leah were working for Feed My Starving Children, a volunteer program through 5th Bridge one weekend in Northfield but at different tables, packing boxes of food. Leah got into a conversation with Nancy Ludescher about what their husbands do.

Rich interviewed with the Northfield law firm of Grundhoefer & Ludescher that weekend and he started there on Monday.

“So much drew me to this firm,” says Rich. “They have a strong commitment to public service and community. I was looking for that and found it with them. They are supportive and encouraging and never question service.”

The Rich family now includes a son, Isaac, and a daughter, Ella.

In addition to his practice and home life, Rich is volunteers. The involvement with Feed My Starving Children began with service every week in law school and continues.

His other volunteer work includes: Rotary, Sertoma (Service to Mankind), Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services in St. Paul – a source for seniors and their issues and Connected Kids Mentorship Program.

The Connected Kids Mentorship Program pairs adults in Northfield with middle school and high school kids who are at risk. Rich is in his third year with the program. “I have been with Luis the whole time,” said Rich. They meet once a week and Rich helps Luis with his homework, watches him play baseball, or plays cards as well as ping pong or they have gone to a Twins game. “Mostly I listen,” says Rich. “ We talk about what the real world is like or his future.”

Rich has also started a legal clinic in Northfield.

Jim Blaha with Community Action Center,contacted him about providing services to the needy who have little or no money. Blaha screens the people and narrows the numbers to those that qualify under his criteria and once a month, Rich meets with them at the CAC facility. There may be a small CO-pay for some.

“They handle the paper work and scheduling – the administrative work,” said Rich. “ I am gauging the interest and hope to get it started, keep it going. I would like other attorneys to find it a rewarding experience and hope more will try it.”

Rich is part of the Young Professionals in Northfield and helps with the charity golf tournament for the Chamber of Commerce. He also volunteers with the Dundas Historical Society and helps get the music for the once-a-year celebration of Dundas Days. He’s learned a lot about local bands. “No one else volunteered at the meetings to find music and though I like music, I can’t read or play,” laughed Rich.

“It wouldn’t be possible to do this volunteer work without my amazing wife,” said Rich. “She’s an amazing force in my life, with the kids and I thank her not nearly enough. And my boss. I couldn’t make a difference without them.”

Jim Blaha, the Executive Director of the CAC, believes that the need for the clinic in the community is strong. “The demand is there, so we’re excited that Grundhoefer & Ludescher has stepped up to offer a service that enables some of the neediest members of our community to get the help they need,” says Blaha. “The CAC is about neighbors helping neighbors, and this clinic is natural fit for us.”

Eligible clients will have the opportunity to meet with an attorney for a minimal fee to discuss their legal concern. The attorney will provide information, options, and resources to assist the client in resolving most legal issues.

David Ludescher, a partner at Grundhoefer & Ludescher, is excited about the opportunity to collaborate with the Community Action Center for such a worthy project. “This project is a natural extension or our law practice and our commitment to community service,” said Ludescher. “Whether it’s Lions, Rotary, Sertoma, 5th Bridge or the Chamber of Commerce, our attorneys are quite active in the community, and we’re committed to continuing that tradition.”

Matthew Rich, an associate attorney at the firm, shares Ludescher’s excitement and noted that attorneys at the law firm are already volunteering their legal services to low-income clients in the areas of criminal law, family law, juvenile law, and mediation. “Although the majority of our work is general practice, we’re already serving the low-income community in several areas of the law, so this clinic is a way to formalize some of those efforts,” said Rich.

To access the Community Legal Clinic, individuals must be current CAC clients.  A fee of $20.00 will be charged, and the client will meet with the attorney for 30 minutes at the CAC offices in the Northfield Community Resource Center. Appointments are required. The first clinic will be held in March.

To schedule an appointment, please call the Community Action Center at 507-664-3550.

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For more information about the clinic, please contact Matthew Rich at 507-645-4451 or mrich@northfieldlaw.com.