Georgia Veterans Law was founded in 2022 by Matthew Wages Johnson, a Department of Veterans Affairs-accredited attorney and former United States Marine Corps officer, with the singular mission of serving the veterans and families who served the United States of America. Mr. Johnson knows that his officer’s oath did not come with an expiration date, and his military training drilled into him the dual objectives of mission accomplishment and troop welfare, objectives that guide his legal service with Georgia Veterans Law as much as they guided his military service with the Marine Corps.
Mr. Johnson graduated from Officer Candidates School, The Basic School, and the Basic Lawyer Course at the Naval Justice School, where he was certified as a 4402 Judge Advocate, or military lawyer. Mr. Johnson rose to the rank of captain and conducted 50 administrative separation boards, handled over 70 military justice cases, advised commanding officers on legal issues, served as officer in charge of the largest Marine legal assistance office in the western United States, briefed over 6,400 personnel and family members on predeployment issues, and advised hundreds of military members, retirees, and dependents on various legal issues.
Mr. Johnson is a seventh-generation Gwinnett County native and a graduate of Central Gwinnett High School, where he was valedictorian and co-captain of the wrestling team. He attended the University of Georgia, where he earned degrees in Economics (BA) and Political Science (BA), and he later graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law (JD) and was admitted to the practice of law.
Mr. Johnson has traveled to 57 countries, and his interests include history, politics, urbanism, and University of Georgia football. He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Marine Corps League, the Marine Corps Association of Georgia Lawyers, and the American Legion. Mr. Johnson has spoken to thousands of veterans and their families about veterans benefits, and he is active in the veterans community in Georgia.