Grundhoefer & Ludescher is Committed to Public Service

This story appeared in the Northfield News on July 23, 2011.
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Born in California and raised in Boston, Matthew Rich traveled across the country, after high school on a college search. He looked at a lot of schools in his 1995 Honda Civic. He picked one in Minnesota.

“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.”