State Bar Director Spotlight • September 2024

Matthew J. Hill

Hometown: Casper, Wyoming
Position: Partner in the Eggleston Law Firm in Spicewood
Board Member: District 15 since 2022

Interview By Will Korn
Photo courtesy of Matthew J. Hill

MY FAMILY RELOCATED OFTEN IN MY YOUTH DUE TO MY FATHER’S OIL AND GAS JOB. So, while I was born in Wyoming, I did most of my growing up in Midland. I always knew I did not want to move quite as much as an adult, but I never knew what I wanted to be. That changed when I accepted an unpaid internship with the Midland County District Attorney’s Office between my sophomore and junior years at Texas A&M University. Just one day into my first jury trial experience I knew I wanted to work in the courtroom.

BUT HOW WOULD I DO THAT? There is a children’s movie where the main character likes to say, “see a need, fill a need.” I did just that. Early in my career, I recognized a need for focused, specialized family law litigators and jumped in with both feet. Now I exclusively practice family law litigation, mediation, and appeals and enjoy navigating all aspects of that practice area with my clients.

WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN FOR DIRECTOR CAME TO MY ATTENTION I JUMPED IN AGAIN. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I knew I wanted to be more involved. I always enjoyed giving back and sharing my knowledge and experiences with others, and I thought serving as the elected director of District 15 would provide a platform to do just that.

DURING MY TIME AS A DISTRICT DIRECTOR, I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY EXPERTISE AND PASSION with Texas lawyers through numerous CLE speaking engagements. Passing along lessons I learned so others might find an easier path, avoid a difficulty I suffered through, or clear a hurdle that caused me to stumble is extremely rewarding to me.

DISTRICT 15 IS QUITE LARGE GEOGRAPHICALLY BUT IS NOT DENSELY POPULATED. Many lawyers in my district have expressed serious concerns about whether their voice matters to the bar. While speaking with the lawyers I represent, I have also learned that many are unaware of numerous things the bar does for and offers to them. I feel it is a director’s responsibility to share that knowledge with the members of their districts and ensure their voices are heard—I have tried to do both.

I FOUND THERE IS A REAL LACK OF ENGAGEMENT BY LAWYERS WITH THE BAR IN GENERAL, which is something I would need more than one term as a director to fully understand and better work to solve. One thing happening now to address engagement is allowing participation in bar service and leadership through electronic means, such as permitting Zoom participation in committees, YouTube streaming of quarterly board meetings, and allowing people to appear and address the board via Zoom. The bar is working to do its part, but members need to do theirs as well, and both can do more. If we could get more lawyers to engage with the bar, we could do far greater things.

IF A NEW LAWYER OR LAW STUDENT ASKED FOR MY BEST PIECE OF ADVICE IT WOULD BE THIS: figure out what you know and what you do not, work to understand the difference between them, and maintain a willingness to learn and to grow. After all, if you are not growing, you are dying. So, grow, and always strive to be better tomorrow than you are today.