Atty. Joseph Murphy
Joseph T. Murphy, partner at Clifford Law Offices, comes with a great deal of experience in the law since he was sworn in Illinois in 2012.
Aviation Law & More Attorney · Serving Chicago, IL · 14+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About Joseph Murphy at a Glance
Joseph Murphy is a personal injury and aviation attorney based in Chicago, Illinois, practicing at Clifford Law Offices. They have 14+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 2012. Admitted to practice in Illinois, Illinois State Bar Association (2012). Educated at University of Illinois Chicago (J.D., 2012) and Illinois Wesleyan University (—). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Aviation Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serves clients in Chicago, IL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About Joseph Murphy
- Joseph T. Murphy, partner at Clifford Law Offices, comes with a great deal of experience in the law since he was sworn in Illinois in 2012
- He formerly was a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney and served as a Special Assistant U.S
- Attorney for the Department of Justice at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he prosecuted misdemeanor and felony offenses in federal court
- He also previously served as chief of federal litigation for the 101st Airborne Division while serving as an attorney and Captain in the U.S
- Army
- Joe is involved in many complex, high-profile cases, including serving as lead attorney in the November 2023 Yellow Line CTA crash where he is representing several injured victims
- This case has earned several media mentions, such as CBS, WTTW and WGN 9
- In February 2024, he was part of the team to obtain a $6.47 million record medical malpractice verdict on behalf of a 58-year-old man who suffered debilitating injuries due to a malpositioned hip implant
- Joe is also one of the Chicago aviation lawyers at Clifford Law Offices working on the 2019 crash of a Boeing jet
- The firm represents nearly 70 families who lost loved ones in the tragic crash in Ethiopia of a Boeing 737 MAX jet that led to its grounding for nearly two years
- Robert A. Clifford serves as Lead Counsel in the litigation pending in federal district court in Chicago
- The complex litigation involves families from 35 countries against the aircraft manufacturer
- Joe was part of the team that obtained a $27 million settlement for a girl (Twin A), now 8-years-old, who suffered serious, permanent injuries during delivery at a Chicago area hospital
- In November of 2013, an emergency C-section was performed due to significant heart rate decelerations on Twin B’s fetal monitor strips
- The attending obstetrician, an obstetrical resident, and a surgical assistant performed the emergency C-section delivery
- Twin A was in the headfirst position, and Twin B was in the buttocks first position
- Twin A had to be delivered first to be able to deliver Twin B. Twin A came out severely depressed and required extensive resuscitation
- She was diagnosed with a skull fracture and bleeding in multiple areas of her brain
- Twin A was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and has permanent neurological injuries affecting her mobility and cognition
- Twin B did not survive
- In October 2023, Joe worked alongside partner Richard F. Burke, Jr to obtain an $11 million settlement on behalf of a child who was killed and two other occupants, who were seriously injured, when the car they were all riding in was rear-ended by another vehicle
- Also in October of 2023 Joe and partners Keith A. Hebeisen and Sarah F. King, obtained a verdict of $10.2 million on behalf of a 49-year-old man whose right leg was amputated in September 2017 as a result of medical malpractice at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, IL
- Joe became a lawyer, first and foremost, to help people
- He learned this from a long family line of lawyers and judges
- Both of his parents are lawyers, including both serving as legal aid lawyers for several years
- His father, Patrick T. Murphy, is a Cook County Circuit Court judge and formerly served as Cook County Public Guardian for 25 years
- His mother, Susan Murphy, served for several years as an attorney at Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS)
- His uncle, Michael Murphy, was a Cook County Appellate Court judge before he passed away in 2012, sadly on the same day that Joe passed the Illinois bar examination
- Another uncle, Dave Donnersberger, was also a Cook County Circuit Court judge
- In total, the family enjoys 19 lawyers, including Joe, at holiday parties
- Joe also serves as a U.S
- Army Reserve Officer
- His mentor is his grandfather, Tom Sitter, a 99-year-old highly decorated World War II veteran, who pinned on his grandson’s rank of Captain at his promotion ceremony in 2018
- His grandfather spent the majority of his life serving in a homeless shelter after the war
- He is a tremendous inspiration for Joe and a large part of the reason he first became a public service lawyer, an Army officer, and now a personal injury lawyer
- His goal of helping others above all else runs through his veins
- Joe enjoys being active in the legal community
- He has served as an investigator on the judicial evaluation committee for the Chicago Bar Association since 2019
- In 2022, Joe was selected as a recipient of the Rising Stars of the Plaintiffs Bar award, which is a recognition given by The National Law Journal
- This honor goes to a select group of attorneys who are under the age of 40 and who are up-and-comers in the plaintiff’s bar
- Joe is a decorated Army Captain having received the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service as well as the Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon
- He received his law degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Illinois Wesleyan University
Practice Areas Explained
Joseph Murphy's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Joseph Murphy handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Chicago.
Personal Injury in Chicago
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
Joseph Murphy is one of 262,557 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in Illinois →
Aviation Law in Chicago
Aviation attorneys for aircraft accidents, FAA regulation, pilot defense, and aviation industry matters.
Joseph Murphy is one of 9,145 aviation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse aviation attorneys in Illinois →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Chicago
Practicing law in Illinois. Legal matters in Illinois are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Chicago are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Illinois state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Illinois brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Illinois courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Chicago Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Chicago-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional Illinois attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Chicago or all attorneys in Illinois.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Chicago Choose Joseph Murphy
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Joseph Murphy's practice in the field of personal injury and aviation.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
Joseph Murphy brings 14+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering personal injury and aviation, Joseph Murphy can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Chicago
A Chicago-based practice means Joseph Murphy attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Case Types
Common Legal Issues Joseph Murphy Handles in Chicago
Below is a representative sample of the types of matters Joseph Murphy has experience with under Illinois law. If your situation involves one of these case categories, this attorney may be well positioned to help you understand your options.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Contact Joseph Murphy directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.
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How People Find Joseph Murphy Online
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Joseph Murphy's Practice Areas & Specializations
Education & Law School Background
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Bar Admissions & Licensed Jurisdictions
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