Nina Matkava

Nina was born and raised in Eastern Europe. She discovered her passion for law in the aftermath of the 2008 war that deeply impacted her community. Witnessing firsthand the importance of justice and legal advocacy, Nina dedicated herself to pursuing a career in law to effect positive change. Before entering law school, she gained invaluable experience working at a criminal defense law firm, which solidified her commitment to defending clients’ rights. Nina further honed her legal skills while working with Virginia’s Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, where she gained a deeper understanding of the prosecutorial side of the justice system. 

 Nina distinguished herself as a top student during law school. In addition to earning the award for highest grade in her criminal law class, her academic excellence was consistently recognized, as she made the Dean’s List every semester and graduated in the top 10% of her class. Her dedication to legal scholarship also led to her being selected as a teaching assistant for multiple classes, including Professional Responsibility, Criminal Law, and Criminal Procedure. In these roles, she was responsible for designing syllabi, creating exams, and providing one-on-one tutoring to students.

 As a summer associate, Nina gained valuable experience in wills and estate planning, as well as in personal injury cases. This exposure to civil litigation ignited her passion for this area of law, broadening her interest beyond criminal litigation. Nina’s commitment to excellence is further demonstrated by her membership in various honor societies, including Phi Delta Phi. She also completed a judicial clerkship, which provided her with a unique perspective on the inner workings of the judiciary and further refined her legal acumen.

 Nina speaks fluently in English even though it is her fourth language. Outside of her professional life, Nina enjoys a variety of activities that showcase her diverse interests. She is an accomplished pianist, a thrill-seeker who loves skydiving, an avid video gamer, and a car racing enthusiast. Nina also has a passion for solving mysteries and engages in spirited debates with her husband about the existence of aliens.