Kevinn Matthews - Attorney, The Cochran Firm

Kevinn Matthews

Attorney, The Cochran Firm

Tulsa native Kevinn Matthews was recently appointed to lead The Cochran Firm’s expansion into Oklahoma after spending an 11 collective years working for companies like Williams Production and Exploration (The Williams Companies) as In-House Counsel before branching out as a Litigation Attorney with a focus on health and safety issues while managing oil field incident litigation made him into a lawyer set on preventing tragedy. He received his B.S. in Urban and Regional Studies from Cornell University and his J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law. He was an Eric B. Jensen Memorial Scholar. Kevinn is also a recipient of the Office of Professional Development Service Award and the James C. Lang Mentoring Award from both the Tulsa County Bar Association and The University of Tulsa College of Law. Kevinn lives as a cooperative, compassionate, and engaged member of his local and global communities. His commitment to social responsibility and service along with a shared responsibility for the environment make him the consummate citizen. Kevinn recently helped lead the launch efforts of the Buck Colbert Franklin Legal Clinic, which provides legal assistance to residents of Tulsa’s Greenwood District, just as its namesake did before and after the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

Q&A

What advice do you share for young persons who want a legal career?

My advice is broader in than a legal career, which is just a part of life. I advise them to figure out what they want to accomplish (OBJECTIVES) with regards to: • Family 1st (in good times and bad) • Lifestyle (what type of lifestyle do you want to lead?) • Career | Definition of Career by Merriam-Webster vs. a job (know the difference)

From a STRATEGY standpoint I tell them to be Firm on Objective and Flexible on Approach (FOFA). I teach them to gather RESOURCES and organize them with thought as resources guide strategy. For example, the University of Tulsa College of Law Office of Professional Development (OPD) “offers career development services to TU Law students and alumni.” TIME – I always ask and am surprised by the response to this question “how many hours are there in a week?”

PRIORITIES – Typically a listing of titles provides some guidance (Law Student, review editor, SBA President, son, sibling, tenant, pet owner, ultimate frisbee team captain . . .)

Finally, all the planning in the world does not mean a thing if you do not EXECUTE, which is why the FOFA is so important.

Throughout your work in the law, describe any changes in racism you have noted.

Firms and in-house departments profess to understand that diversity does not mean having a few ethnic or other minorities in the office. There have been strides to improve the culture as to minority lawyers, but much is still needed. There needs to be more participation from all the leaders in the community to create a pathway to excel in the practice of law.

What would you recommend for firms or schools to do in order to promote diversity inclusion in the future?

Promoting diversity requires more than talk and implementation of educational programs that provide members of the legal profession with greater awareness of issues like bias (both explicit and implicit) in the workplace and strategies to eliminate it. Action is required from the leadership down.

Describe the impact of race upon your career?

I realize that there are few Black men in the legal profession, and I work to be an inspiration to some and an excellent lawyer to others.

Law Day Fact #2 - In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Law Day as a day of national dedication to the principles of government under law.