Biglaw associates are often recognized for their impressive ability to juggle demanding legal careers with various personal pursuits. However, Sidley Austin associate Matt Simpson is taking this to an exceptional level as he prepares to head to the Paralympic Games in Paris, commencing on August 28th. This marks Simpson’s third appearance at the Paralympics, following his participation in Tokyo in 2021 and Rio in 2016, where he secured a team silver medal.
Simpson, who was born with a congenital retina disease, competes in goalball—a team sport played by athletes who are all blindfolded. He emphasized the significance of the sport in an interview with Law.com, noting, “Picking up the goalball for the first time and getting on the court for the first time meant so much to me. Because anything else I ever did in life, whether it was running on a track or something in a pool or school or just playing on the playground, my vision was always a factor… one of the unique parts of goalball is that everyone is blindfolded so there’s no visual advantage at all.”
The dual demands of being an elite athlete and an attorney require a considerable balancing act. Simpson explained that his routine involves training both with local teams and his national team, alongside his professional responsibilities at Sidley Austin. His preparation methods include extensive solo training, such as working on technique and simulating game situations, often in unconventional settings like his basement.
Simpson’s path to combining his athletic aspirations with a legal career began after graduating from the University of Virginia Law School and joining Sidley Austin. Recently, he completed a clerkship with Western District of Kentucky Judge Benjamin Beaton, and he has just returned to Sidley, mere days before departing for Paris.
For more detailed coverage of Simpson’s journey to the Paralympics, readers can refer to the original article on Above the Law.