About Thomas
Thomas Shaffer trained first as an engineer and then turned that technical background toward the law. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mineral Engineering from West Virginia University and later completed study at the U.S. Department of Labor’s National Mine and Safety Institute, where he received a B.S. in 1982. That combination of technical education and regulatory training frames much of his work.
He built a career that sits at the intersection of mining, workplace safety and legal practice. Early on, Shaffer applied engineering skills to practical problems underground and in industrial settings. Over time he added legal qualifications and began handling matters that require both technical literacy and legal judgment. He uses the two disciplines in tandem rather than treating them as separate phases of a career.
Shaffer practices law under the name Thomas W. Shaffer, Esquire. He is a member of the Pennsylvania State Bar and is authorized to practice in Pennsylvania. His certifications include multiple credentials from the U.S. Department of Labor, National Mine and Health and Safety Institute. Those certifications reflect formal training in mine health and safety standards and regulatory procedures.
Colleagues describe him as someone who reads technical reports the same way he reads statutes: carefully and with an eye for detail. He has worked on matters that call for parsing engineering plans, evaluating compliance with safety regulations, and preparing legal filings where technical accuracy matters. His background allows him to question assumptions on both the engineering side and the legal side of a problem.
His practice has a practical bent. He spends time advising clients on regulatory compliance, incident investigations, and administrative processes. He also prepares and reviews technical documentation that forms the basis for regulatory submissions and defenses. Courtroom advocacy is part of the mix when cases move beyond administrative hearings.
Outside the office, Shaffer maintains involvement with professional and bar activities tied to Pennsylvania practice. He keeps current on changes to mining safety standards and the administrative rules that affect operations and enforcement. He balances that continuing education with the day-to-day work of representing clients whose matters involve engineering detail and legal consequence.
He currently practices in Pennsylvania, handling matters that connect mining engineering, safety regulation and legal process.
