About Matthew J
Matthew J Ausley entered the legal world after a nontraditional path through business studies and then law school. He earned a B.A. in Business Management from Asbury College in 2004 and a J.D. from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2014. Those academic stops set the stage for an early run of courtroom and firm internships that followed.
His practical training began while he was still a student. In 2013 he interned at Holland & Knight, and the next year he took an internship with a U.S. District Court. Those placements exposed him to both firm practice and federal procedure. After graduating, he joined The Critzer Law Office in 2015, where he worked as a lawyer before moving on to a partnership role.
In 2016 Ausley became a partner at Anchors Smith Grimsley, PLC. He spent the next few years balancing partnership duties while building a network in northwest Florida. By 2019 he launched his own firm, Good Life Legal, operating as its founder and lawyer. The move from partner to founder gave him control over how he delivers services and how the office is run.
Ausley has maintained active ties to local legal and business groups. He is a member of the Okaloosa Bar Association since 2014 and the Walton County Bar Association since 2015. He joined the Niceville Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce in 2016 and became a member of the Jacksonville Bar Association in 2022. He also served with Niceville Young Professionals from 2017 to 2018. These memberships reflect a pattern of engagement in both bar activities and local commerce organizations.
Good Life Legal operates on a by-appointment basis. The firm lists multiple by-appointment-only offices, and Ausley runs client consultations through scheduled meetings rather than drop-in hours. Colleagues and clients have described his practice style as pragmatic; he emphasizes clear communication and practical problem solving when managing matters. His background includes experience in firm settings and in court, which informs how he prepares work for clients and opposing counsel.
He is licensed to practice in Florida and continues to serve clients through Good Life Legal. He currently practices at Good Life Legal, handling a range of legal matters by appointment.
