Matthew Benson, Managing Partner
Education:
Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) Southern Illinois University, May 2001
Juris Doctorate Southern Illinois University School of Law, May 2004
Professional Associations:
President, Perry County Bar Association, 2019-present
Illinois State Bar Association
*Banking, Bankruptcy & Collections, Section Council 2012-2013
*Family Law Section Council 2020-Present
Publications:
When the Client Becomes the Debtor: Family Law Attorney Fee Agreements in Bankruptcy
*ISBA Family Law Newsletter, February 2022
Three Rules for Drafting Marital Settlement Agreements in Anticipation of Bankruptcy,
*Illinois Bar Journal September 2013, Page 474
Chapter 7 is Alive and Well Despite the “Means Test,”
*Illinois Bar Journal September 2009, Page 470
Aaron Emery, Case Manager
Education:
Bachelor Of Arts, Southern Illinois University, May 2004
Aaron Emery joined The Benson Law Firm in 2020 and was promoted to Case Manager in 2023. Born and raised in Du Quoin, Illinois, he graduated from Du Quoin High School and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale before spending the next 11 years living in California & Hawaii. Aaron is primarily focused on family law and estate planning, with an emphasis on client communication and customer service. In his spare time, he likes to play golf, sample local craft beer, and let Mr. Benson talk him into buying more weird guitars.
Casey Williams,Law Clerk & Soon to be Associate
Education:
Associate of Arts, College of DuPage August 2015
*Phi Theta Kappa member, The National Honor Society for Two-Year College Students
*Academic Honors standing while attending College of DuPage
Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) Illinois Wesleyan University May 2016
Master of Science (Criminal Justice) Tiffin University, December 2018
*Led special project for Fermilab Infrastructure Concepts for a Diverse and Inclusive Workforce
*Presented original research at the 2018 OCCJE Research Conference in Akron, OH and the first annual Tiffin University Research Conference and Competition in Tiffin, OH
Juris Doctorate, Southern Illinois University School of Law, May 2023
*SIU Law Journal, staff
*2020-2021 Delos Duty Scholarship recipient, awarded to an entering student for outstanding achievement
*Invited Student Leader, Joint SIU School of Law-School of Social Work Expert Witness Testimony Workshop, Feb. 2022