Awards and Professional Recognition
A Reputation Built on Nearly Three Decades in South Carolina Courtrooms
Columbia, South Carolina criminal defense lawyer Matt Bodman has a well-earned reputation for being a skilled attorney who consistently delivers results for clients in the courtroom. That’s why people throughout the capital region often turn to Matt Bodman, P.A. when they need a top-notch lawyer to handle their legal case.
The founder of his own criminal defense and personal injury practice in Columbia, South Carolina, attorney Matt Bodman has built a reputation over nearly 30 years as an aggressive, results-oriented lawyer who puts his clients’ needs first.
Such hard work has earned the recognition of his peers, legal publications and professional organizations in the legal field. Each award and commendation reflects a different aspect of how attorney Bodman approaches his work, from the trial skill his peers vote on every year to the associations that keep him connected to the broader legal field.
Recognized as Legal Elite of the Midlands
Columbia Business Monthly and its sister publication, Greenville Business Magazine, publish an annual Legal Elite list that honors attorneys nominated and voted on by their own peers across the Midlands region. Attorneys cannot nominate themselves, and every in-house nomination requires an outside nomination from another firm, which keeps the list grounded in genuine professional respect rather than self-promotion. Attorney Bodman has appeared on this list multiple times for his work in criminal law.
- 2020 Legal Elite Selection: Greenville Business Magazine recognized Attorney Bodman among its Legal Elite 2020 criminal law honorees, a list drawn from a statewide vote of practicing attorneys.
- 2018 Legal Elite Selection: Columbia Business Monthly included Attorney Bodman among the Midlands attorneys recognized in criminal law, as reflected in the publication’s 2018 Legal Elite feature.
- 2015 Legal Elite Selection: Attorney Bodman was named to the Legal Elite of the Midlands for Criminal Law, continuing a pattern of recognition from his peers across the region.
- 2012 Legal Elite Selection: Columbia Business Monthly honored Attorney Bodman as one of only six attorneys recognized for excellence in criminal defense practice that year, a distinction detailed in Columbia Attorney Matt Bodman Named Among Midlands Criminal Law Elite.
Being named to this list four times over the better part of a decade reflects a level of consistency that matters to clients. Peer recognition like this reflects more than one successful year in court. It requires attorneys across the Midlands to keep noticing the same name.
Professional Memberships and Legal Associations
Attorney Bodman has stayed active in several professional organizations throughout his career, both at the state and national level. These memberships connect him to the broader defense and trial bar community and keep him current on developments in criminal and civil litigation.
- South Carolina Bar: Attorney Bodman has maintained active membership with the South Carolina Bar, the licensing and professional body for attorneys practicing throughout the state.
- South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: As a member of the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Attorney Bodman stays connected to a statewide network of defense attorneys focused specifically on criminal practice.
- South Carolina Association for Justice: Attorney Bodman belongs to the South Carolina Association for Justice, an organization dedicated to protecting the rights of injured people and preserving access to the civil justice system.
- Richland County Bar Association: Membership in the Richland County Bar Association keeps Attorney Bodman connected to the local legal community in the county that includes Columbia.
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: Attorney Bodman is also a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the leading national organization representing criminal defense attorneys and protecting due process rights across the country.
- American Association for Justice: Attorney Bodman belongs to the American Association for Justice, a national organization supporting trial attorneys who represent injured people against powerful interests.
Belonging to organizations on both the criminal defense side and the trial bar side reflects the dual nature of Attorney Bodman’s practice, which spans serious criminal charges and personal injury claims alike.
Courtroom Experience That Shaped a Trusted Reputation
Before founding his own practice in 2002, Attorney Bodman spent five years as an Assistant Solicitor, South Carolina’s term for an Assistant District Attorney, in Richland County. He tried cases ranging from murder and first-degree burglary to DUI as a full-time prosecutor, and that courtroom experience from the other side of the table now shapes how he defends clients today.
That reputation for trial-tested judgment has also made him a trusted voice outside the courtroom. Attorney Bodman has appeared as a guest commentator on Court TV, offering legal analysis on criminal cases for a national audience. Before attending law school, he also spent several years as a newspaper reporter for The Greenville News, an experience that sharpened his ability to investigate facts and explain complicated legal issues in plain terms for clients and juries alike.
Contact Attorney Bodman Today
Recognition from peers and professional organizations only means something when it translates into results for the people who actually need help. Attorney Bodman built his reputation the same way he built his practice, one case at a time, whether that case involves a serious criminal charge or a personal injury claim.
If you are facing a criminal charge or have been injured due to someone else’s negligence in South Carolina, Attorney Bodman can walk you through the legal options available to you. Contact us to schedule your free consultation.