Associate Attorney Joseph D. Weaver

Professional Background & Experience

Joseph was born and raised in Billings, Montana. After graduating high school, he attended Wake Forest University in North Carolina, where he studied Economics and Political Science. During this time, he interned for U.S. Senator Max Baucus in Washington, D.C. In his third undergraduate year, he transferred to the University of Montana in Missoula because he missed the local people, culture, and outdoor lifestyle. Additionally, for Joseph, this transition marked the return to his Montana roots and the beginning of his involvement in Montana’s legal industry.

In 2016, Joseph graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. The following year, he enrolled in law school. During his time as a student, he interned for a renowned civil litigation firm in Missoula and was also a judicial intern for the Honorable Dana L. Christensen at the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana. In 2020, he graduated with his Juris Doctorate from the Alexander Blewett III School of Law.

After law school, Joseph assumed a formal position as a law clerk for the Supreme Court of Montana in Helena, working directly with Justice James Jeremiah Shea. During this time, he assisted in the authorship of judicial opinions on diverse and complex areas of Montana Law. In 2021, he became employed at the Montana State Office of the Public Defender and spent several years representing indigent criminal defendants in Missoula, Ravalli, and Mineral Counties. Many of these cases were highly intricate and complex in nature, including several jury trials.

Joseph began working as an Associate Attorney at Laird Cowley’s Missoula office in September of 2023. He is enthusiastic about working for a firm that has an excellent reputation for client-centered service and is eager to represent individuals and businesses in the civil world.

Local Presence & Beyond

Joseph has dedicated his legal career to helping Montanans navigate the legal system. In 2020, he received the Norman Hanson Award for Legal Writing while studying at the University of Montana School of Law. During the course of his career, he has worked consistently to support and protect the rights of underserved communities in Montana, representing indigent criminal defendants in Missoula, Ravalli, and Mineral Counties.

Hobbies & Interests

When he is not in the office, Joseph enjoys being active, spending time with his family, and exploring Montana’s beautiful outdoor landscape. As a youth, he was a regionally and nationally ranked tennis player and still enjoys playing recreationally today. His other interests include golf, backpacking/camping, fly fishing, reading, and playing chess. Joseph has family close by in Missoula, Billings, and Polson, and they get together as a family on a frequent basis.