From Construction Sites to the Blogosphere: Matt DeVries on Building a Legal Reputation

For this week’s episode of Real Lawyers, Kevin sat down with Matt DeVries, a construction lawyer at Buchalter and longtime author of Best Practices Construction Law.

Matt has been publishing online since the early days of legal blogging—long before “content marketing” was a buzzword. He built his reputation not by covering every corner of construction law but by bringing his own voice, storytelling and lived experience into his writing.

The two talked about how that approach opened doors for speaking engagements, national publications and client trust—while also helping him navigate personal and professional challenges.

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Episode outline

• 00:00 — Early career and love of writing: From Capitol Hill to Virginia courts, Matt found his footing through research and writing before law school
• 06:00 — Starting a blog in Nashville: Using online publishing to stand out in a competitive market after leaving DC
• 10:30 — Finding his style: Lessons from mentors like Cordell Parvin on writing with personality and solving client problems
• 15:00 — Service through law: How representing contractors taught Matt the real impact of his work
• 18:30 — Lightbulb moments: Blogging leading to speaking at the AGC National Convention and writing for Engineering News-Record
• 22:30 — Reputation over SEO: Why clients search for names, not keywords, and how online publishing builds credibility
• 29:00 — The importance of niches: Why focus areas still matter for lawyers today
• 36:00 — Owning your platform: Why Matt invested in his blog personally and carried it across firms
• 40:00 — Preserving lawyer publishing: How firms often lose content when lawyers move on and why that matters
• 47:00 — Looking ahead: Expanding into speaking and writing on lawyer wellbeing, ethics and balance

Key takeaways

• Blogging as differentiation: Matt started his blog when moving from DC to Nashville, using it to stand out in a new market
• From posts to opportunities: His writing led to speaking at the national AGC convention and a regular column in Engineering News-Record
• Mentorship matters: Guidance from figures like Cordell Parvin shaped his voice and focus on solving client problems
• Personal challenges and perspective: Balancing seven kids, a divorce and a demanding practice gave him perspective that informs both his writing and client work
• Niches endure: Whether in 2007 or today, carving out a focused practice area remains one of the most effective ways to build a name
• Looking ahead: Beyond construction law, Matt is turning to issues like work-life balance, mental health and supporting lawyers facing professional pressures