Matthew T. Famiglietti

The Law Office of Matthew T. Famiglietti PLLC focuses on Disability Law, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Employment Law, Asylum Law, and Special Education Law. All of these areas have one thing in common – helping those who are being discriminated against through no fault of their own. Matthew Famiglietti opened his first law office in 1994 because he believes strongly that one individual can make a difference. Having a disability, and living with that disability every day, gives him a unique insight into issues that affect people with disabilities. He has a deep commitment to providing quality legal services to others with disabilities. Of course, he brings that same commitment to those without disabilities as well.

As a long-standing member of MWELA, Matthew has over 25 years of experience in Employment Discrimination law and has settled or won cases against multiple federal agencies as well as private sector firms. He has worked with clients to have their security clearances restored, keep their jobs, and obtain reasonable accommodations. He has worked with clients to obtain financial remuneration after they had already lost their jobs due to various forms of discrimination.

His own disability allows Matthew to understand the needs of his Social Security Disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) clients in a way others may not, and he is a passionate advocate for his clients. He has been a member of NOSSCR for many years and regularly participates in their National Day of Advocacy. Matthew is careful to evaluate each case individually, and will give his honest assessment. In today’s political climate Social Security cases are more and more difficult to win, so it is more important than ever to have an experienced attorney on your side.

Special Education holds a special place in Matthew’s heart. Matthew was the first disabled child to graduate from his own high school before federal and state Special Education laws were enacted, and he attributes this to his mother. He watched his mother literally break down barriers for him, from making sure that a class was moved from the second floor to the first floor so he could attend the class, to fighting for and getting ramps and automatic doors installed, to going toe to toe with both his high school and college administration officials. “I literally hear a bell ring every time I win a Social Security Disability case or a Special Education case, and I know my mother is getting her angel wings” he says. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without her, and she is the reason I do this type of law.” He is the author of the e-book What Every Parent and Lawyer Should Know About Special Education. Matthew is a passionate advocate for parents and children with disabilities.

Matthew joined AILA in 2017 with the goal of helping those seeking asylum based on the fear of persecution either now or in the future on the grounds of sexual orientation, government sponsored violence, gang-related violence, and political persecution. He has an active asylum case load working with clients seeking relief from persecution for various grounds.

Matthew has been a CLE instructor and has taught seminars for AARP’s Legal Counsel for the Elderly, the Archdiocese Legal Network of DC (Catholic Charities), the DC Bar, and other service organizations. He served as a Guardian ad Litem for abused and neglected children in South Carolina. He was an advocate for the SC Protection & Advocacy System for the Handicapped where he advocated for children and adults with mental and physical disabilities, represented families and children with disabilities in numerous Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings with local school districts in South Carolina, and presented seminars on the rights of disabled children to have a free and appropriate education.

He worked at the University of South Caroline Center for Developmental Disabilities, and the US Department of Labor. He graduated from the College of Charleston and earned his JD at the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Matthew, his wife Michelle, and his service dog Cody, are members of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Arlington VA. Matthew is active in the Labor and Justice Team and is a member of the newly formed Malice Towards None group which is a group focused on healing the divisions that have occurred in this country in the last several years. Specifically, it aims to bring Biden supporters, Trump supporters, and Independents together to discuss the future of the country and community and to heal our nation.

He believes firmly in the ideals of democracy, and joined the Young Democrats at the tender age of 13. He has been active in politics ever since, volunteering on many presidential and congressional campaigns over the years. He has served as a volunteer poll watcher in many campaigns. Matthew ran in the Democratic Primary for Congress in 2008 in Northern Virginia against an 18-year incumbent, and he also sought the Democratic nomination for the Governor of Virginia for a short period of time in 2012-13. Most recently he worked on the Biden campaign, making many phone calls in support of the campaign in both Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Matthew is an avid fan of the 2019 World Champion Washington Nationals. He loves reading books about politics, history, and Italian culture. He loves listening to music, especially Christmas music, even when it’s not Christmas, which drives his wife crazy. He is a dog lover par excellence, and is particularly fond of Bichon Frisees, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers. His former service dog Buddy is a lab/vizla rescue currently enjoying retirement with full medical benefits at home. You can read more about Matthew in his autobiography, The Book of Matthew.