Joel Robbins
Following graduation from the University of Arizona Rogers School of Law in 1986, Joel worked for a medium-size Phoenix law firm. Since 2003, Joel has specialized in serious personal injury, wrongful death, and civil rights cases. He has also represented clients in cases ranging from construction accidents, automobile cases, hot air balloon accidents to civil rights police shootings. He has worked diligently to return dignity to his clients following their injuries.
Joel has been described as fearless in pursuit of justice in his civil rights work. His motivation for this comes from his father, USAF Captain Richard Robbins, who was shot down in 1966 in Laos. Captain Robbins’ remains were not recovered until 1996. “My father was career Air Force. He took an oath to defend the constitution of the United States against enemies both foreign and domestic. I represent my civil rights clients based on the same principles.” He has been described by his peers as someone who “really cares about his clients”, and he is known to work tirelessly for them. “I went into law to help those who have been injured. I remind myself all the time that no one got injured so that my family can eat”.
loading ...
loading ...
loading ...
Joel’s significant cases include those injured by professionals, those with bad faith against their worker’s compensation insurers, and for those filing suing public entities. He has been responsible for multiple million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients. Joel is passionate about doing the right thing. This is demonstrated more fully in his involvement in the National Police Accountability Project (NPAP). NPAP was founded with the intent of helping to foster good police practices, to provide support for grassroots and victim’s organizations combating police misconduct, and to end abusive and improper police misconduct.
Joel has been certified by the State Bar of Arizona as a certified specialist in injury and wrongful death litigation and has an AV-Preeminent rating by Martindale Hubbell.
EDUCATION:
J.D., University of Arizona Rogers School of Law, 1986
- Moot Court Board
B.A., University of Arizona, 1985
- Cum Laude
- Pat Shelly Memorial Award for Service
BAR ADMISSIONS:
- Arizona, 1986
- US District Court, Arizona 1986
- 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, 1996
SIGNIFICANT CASES:
- AA Mechanical v. Superior Court (Vree)
- Hayes v. Continental Ins. Co.
- Bachus v. State
- Flanders v. Maricopa County
- Tars v. Maricopa County
- Ochser v. Maricopa County
- Vogel v. Maricopa County
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/HONORS/AWARDS:
- National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100 Trial Lawyers 2013-2018
- Top 50 Lawyers in Arizona, 2017, 2019 and 2022
- Past President, American Board of Trial Advocates, Phoenix Chapter, 2016-17
- State Bar of Arizona Certified Specialist, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death litigation
- Member, American Association of Justice
- Member, National Police Accountability Project (NPAP)
- Member and Board Member, Arizona Trial Lawyers’ Association
- Arizona Trial Lawyers’ Association “Lawyer of the Year” 2017-18
- Member, Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
- Member, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
- Member, National Board of Trial Advocacy
- Past President, Phoenix Trial Lawyers
- Kenneth D. Freeman Award for Excellence in Continuing Legal Education, Maricopa County Bar Association
- AV-Preeminent rating, Martindale Hubbell
- Super Lawyers 2007-2022
PUBLISHED WORKS:
- “A.R.S. §12-2601: Making Arizona a Playground for Negligent Construction Professionals”, Arizona Advocate, 1996
- “The ‘Arizona Indivisible Injury’ Rule in Multiple Collision Cases”, Arizona Advocate, 1995
PERSONAL:
Joel has been married to his wife Cathy since 1993. Cathy and Joel have two children, Ben and Laney. Cathy teaches art at Xavier College Preparatory. When not hanging out with his family, which is his preferred form of entertainment, Joel likes to hike.Ma
Robbins & Curtin Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyers
The client comes first