About Tom
Tom Murphy studied liberal arts before turning to law. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Flagler College in 1993 and completed his Juris Doctor at Florida A&M University College of Law in 2005. Those years in school laid the groundwork for a courtroom-centered career and a steady progression through Florida’s public defense system.
Murphy began practicing in Florida soon after law school. In 2006 he joined the Office of the Public Defender in the 9th Judicial Circuit in Orlando. That early period put him in front of judges and juries in a steady stream of state criminal matters. He later moved to the Office of the Public Defender for the 4th Circuit in Duval County in 2012, where he continued to handle trial-level work and related court proceedings. Those roles provided repeated trial exposure and routine interaction with prosecutors, judges, probation officers and forensic experts.
After more than a decade in public defense, Murphy transitioned into private practice. In 2020 he worked with The Law Office of Corey Cohen & Associates, taking on cases from intake through resolution. The following year he opened his own practice, Murphy s Law - A Law Office. The move to a solo practice gave him responsibility for case strategy, client counseling and firm management.
His experience is rooted in state criminal practice. Over time he has handled arraignments, pretrial hearings, plea negotiations and jury trials. He has worked cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies and has experience preparing evidence, interviewing witnesses and developing defense strategies tailored to individual clients. He has also spent time advising clients about collateral consequences and post-conviction considerations.
Colleagues describe him as a pragmatic courtroom lawyer who prefers straightforward preparation and clear communication with clients. He maintains memberships in local professional groups and stays active in the legal community. That activity keeps him current on practice rules and procedural developments in Florida courts.
Murphy runs Murphy s Law - A Law Office as a Florida practitioner, handling criminal matters and representing individuals in state court proceedings. He continues to take cases in Florida and manages his practice from that jurisdiction. He currently practices in Florida, concentrating on criminal defense and related proceedings.
