About Michael Dennis
Michael Dennis Matter built his legal foundation at Pennsylvania State University. He earned a B.S. in Labor and Industrial Relations in 1994 and returned to Penn State’s Dickinson School of Law to receive his J.D. in 1999. Those years set the stage for a career that moves between trial work and courtroom procedure.
He began public service soon after law school, joining the Dauphin County public defender’s office as an assistant public defender in 2000. That role placed him in front of juries and on numerous preliminary hearings. He then transitioned to private practice, taking an associate position at Lavery, Faherty, Young & Patterson, P.C. in 2003. The early 2000s were a period of steady courtroom work for Matter and helped shape his approach to litigation.
Matter’s work in federal and state court expanded in the mid-2000s. In 2005 he served as a panel lawyer for the United States Courts for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. A year later he moved into a senior litigation role at McShane Law Office, handling more complex disputes and courtroom responsibilities. In 2007 he established a personal law office, the Law Office of Michael Matter, maintaining an active presence in central Pennsylvania legal circles.
Across his career he has held a variety of roles that emphasize courtroom practice. Listings of his positions include senior associate roles and solo practice. In 2022 his resume shows work as a senior associate at The Law Office of Jason R Carpenter and a lawyer at Grace Legal Offices, PLLC. Those positions reflect continued involvement in trial and appellate matters.
Matter is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He is also admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and to the United States District Court for the Middle and Eastern Districts of Pennsylvania. He has maintained membership in the Pennsylvania State Bar since 2000 and participates in the Dauphin County Bar Association.
His career reads like that of a courtroom lawyer who has moved between public defense, firm practice and his own office. He has balanced trial responsibilities with appellate filings and federal court work. He currently practices in Pennsylvania, handling litigation in state and federal courts, including trial and appellate work.
