Joseph T. Murphy

A decorated U.S. Army Captain, one who has earned such honors as the Army Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Army Achievement Medal, attorney Joseph Murphy is no stranger to serving his country. His peers say that Murphy, partner at Clifford Law Offices, P.C., became a personal injury lawyer to continue this service, helping people who have suffered serious injuries. 

Today, for example, Murphy is working with his fellow attorneys at Clifford Law Offices to represent 72 families who lost loved ones during the 2019 crash of a Boeing 737 Max jet in Ethiopia. This complex litigation involves families from 35 countries. 

Despite building a busy personal injury practice, Murphy still finds time to serve his country. He has served as a U.S. Army Judge Advocate since 2016. He has also served as a prosecutor in both the state and federal systems. Murphy turned in especially strong work while serving as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Department of Justice and Chief of Federal Litigation for the 101st Airborne Division, said a senior officer in the U.S. Army who nominated Murphy.

The officer stated that Murphy handled more than 80 felonies while in the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, many of which were firearm, gang affiliation, and violent crime cases. Murphy is also a certified special victims' counsel, representing victims of sexual assault throughout the military. 

"I respectfully submit you will be hard-pressed to find someone with the depth and breadth of Joe Murphy as an advocate in our military and civilian systems," the officer said. 

An associate judge with District 3 of the Circuit Court of Cook County, said that hundreds of lawyers appear before him. But few, the judge said, possess the qualities that Murphy displays. 

"The role of a prosecutor, in our criminal justice system, is not an easy task, if done correctly. My observation of Joseph is that he does; every day," the judge said. "At all times, Joseph exhibited a mastery of trial procedure and the rules of evidence. His courtroom presence made him stand out from many of his colleagues."

A judge with the Municipal Department of the Circuit Court of Cook County, points to Murphy's decency and humility as key personality traits that have allowed him to thrive in the field of law. 

"He has achieved a level of technical proficiency that is rare for an attorney of his youthful age," The judge said. "However, it is his decency as a human being, his humility even in the face of his successes, and his fearlessness in the way he tackles new and greater responsibilities that make him a trusted colleague, respected and liked even by his adversaries. He is a person that is hard to root against. His career progress since he left the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office is evidence of these skills."

In addition to his service to the U.S. Army, Murphy is also a member of the Chicago Bar Association, where he serves on the judicial evaluation committee, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Illinois State Bar Association, American Bar Association, and Northwest Suburban Bar Association.