About Karissa N.
Karissa N. Murphy graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2015 and earned her law degree from Duquesne University School of Law in 2018. Her time in law school included a judicial internship in 2017 with the Honorable Judith F. Olson at the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. That clerkship offered her an early window into appellate procedure and court operations.
After law school, Murphy moved into private practice. She became an associate at Thompson Law Office. In that role she has handled client counseling, legal research, brief writing and courtroom appearances in Pennsylvania. Her admission to practice before the courts of Pennsylvania and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania allows her to represent clients in a range of state-court matters.
The judicial internship shaped the way Murphy approaches litigation. Reading opinions, drafting bench memoranda and observing oral arguments acquainted her with appellate standards of review and the cadence of appellate advocacy. She carried that experience into private practice, where appellate awareness informs case strategy at the trial level as well as arguments on appeal.
Colleagues describe Murphy as methodical in her preparation. She breaks complex legal problems into manageable parts and lays out pathways for clients to consider. Her work includes preparing pleadings, negotiating procedural scheduling and handling evidentiary submissions. In court she presents findings and positions on behalf of clients and responds to questions from judges during hearings.
Outside the courtroom she devotes time to continuing legal education and stays current on changes in state practice and procedure. That emphasis on staying informed supports her work in both trial and appellate contexts. She also draws on her undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh when communicating complex concepts to clients in plain language.
Murphy’s practice is rooted in Pennsylvania law. She maintains professional ties to the local bar and has continued connections to the Superior Court through former mentors and colleagues. Her background combines courtroom exposure, appellate internship experience and daily legal practice in a regional law office.
She practices at Thompson Law Office and represents clients in matters brought before Pennsylvania state courts, including proceedings that reach the appellate level.
