Joseph S. Kelly

Admitted to practice 1974 in Iowa; trial attorney for the state of Iowa Attorney General’s Office, Tort Claim Division 1974-1977;  Admitted to practice 1978 in Arizona; U-Haul International/Amerco, Inc. Litigation Counsel to General Counsel 1977 to 1986; Susemihl, Davis, & Kelly partner 1986 to 1991; State Farm Insurance, staff litigation counsel 1991 to September, 2014. AV Preeminent peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell. The American Registry has named Joe as one “America’s Most Honored Lawyers”.  Joe was elected into ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates) at the Advocate level.  Joe is also an elected member of NADN (National Association of Distinguished Neutrals).  Joe has been serving as a private mediator and arbitrator since 2014 when he “re-wired” from State Farm.

 Joe has been a Judge Pro Tempore for the Maricopa County Superior Court for over 22 years, volunteering his time to cover judge’s calendars, mediating cases, presiding over trials and performing wedding ceremonies. 

Joe has tried numerous cases since 1974 involving personal injury and wrongful death.  Joe has given seminars for the Maricopa County Bar Association, the State Bar of Arizona, A.B.O.T.A.  Arizona Trial Lawyers Association ,Arizona Trial College, CLE by the Sea, Primerus International Society, and in-house seminars for State Farm Insurance on topics ranging from Alternative Dispute Resolution, Bicycle Accidents and Ethics.

Joe is currently “semi-retired” doing private arbitrations/mediations and case consultations. Joe has conducted hundreds of mediations and arbitrations while in practice and since retirement with over a 95% success rate. 

Joe was appointed as an adjunct professor of law at Arizona Summit Law School in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Admitted to practice 1974 in Iowa; trial attorney for the state of Iowa Attorney General’s Office, Tort Claim Division 1974-1977;  Admitted to practice 1978 in Arizona; U-Haul International/Amerco, Inc. Litigation Counsel to General Counsel 1977 to 1986; Susemihl, Davis, & Kelly partner 1986 to 1991; State Farm Insurance, staff litigation counsel 1991 to September, 2014. AV Preeminent peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell. The American Registry has named Joe as one “America’s Most Honored Lawyers”.  Joe was elected into ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates) at the Advocate level.  Joe is also an elected member of NADN (National Association of Distinguished Neutrals).  Joe has been serving as a private mediator and arbitrator since 2014 when he “re-wired” from State Farm.

 Joe has been a Judge Pro Tempore for the Maricopa County Superior Court for over 20 years, volunteering his time to cover judge’s calendars, mediating cases, presiding over trials and performing wedding ceremonies. 

Joe has tried numerous cases since 1974 involving personal injury and wrongful death.  Joe has given seminars for the Maricopa County Bar Association, the State Bar of Arizona, A.B.O.T.A.  Arizona Trial Lawyers Association ,Arizona Trial College, and in-house seminars for State Farm Insurance on topics ranging from Alternative Dispute Resolution, Bicycle Accidents and Ethics.

Joe is currently “semi-retired” doing private arbitrations/mediations and case consultations. Joe has conducted hundreds of mediations and arbitrations while in practice and since retirement with over a 95% success rate. 

Joe was appointed as an adjunct professor of law at Arizona Summit Law School in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

• Bachelor of Arts, University of Iowa 1971 
• Juris Doctorate with honors, Drake University Law School 1974

• Member of Arizona State Bar
• Member Maricopa County Bar
• Member Scottsdale Bar Association

$480 per hour