He is admitted to practice before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the Middle and Eastern Districts of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

​

Attorney McGraw earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from the  University of Scranton.   During college, he completed an internship with the Law Firm of Munley, Munley and Cartwright.  During law school, he worked as a Clerk with the Honorable Judge Robert J. Conway, President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Wayne County.   He earned his Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  While in Law School, he earned a coveted spot within the Widener University School of Law Trial Advocacy Society.  He completed the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program. 

 

He also earned a certificate of Achievement for his performance at the National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition, held at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois.    Nearing the end of his time at Widener and eager to enter into the practice of criminal defense law, Attorney McGraw began an internship with the Dauphin County Public Defender’s Office in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 

​

Following that internship, he was hired as an Assistant Public Defender in the Dauphin County Public Defender’s Office.  This gave him an opportunity to hone his trial skills in the courtroom.  It also exposed him to the guidance of some the most experienced, knowledgeable and aggressive criminal defense lawyers in the Commonwealth.  

In 2008, McGraw returned to Northeastern Pennsylvania where he worked for a time in the Lackawanna County Public Defender’s Office.  Today, Attorney Joseph G. McGraw is a private practitioner and a partner in the firm of Nepa & McGraw, P.C. with a practice  focusing on criminal defense.  He is a member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

​

Attorney McGraw regularly attends continuing legal education courses in the area of criminal and DUI defense.  He firmly believes that legal education does not end in law school.  The ever changing face of the law requires a vigorous effort to keep pace.  He is a regular attendee of criminal defense seminars as well as numerous courses produced by the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys and the College of DUI Defense.

​

Attorney McGraw has a deep affinity for the area of Northeastern Pennsylvania.  He enjoys deep family ties to this the area.  As such, he strives to make a commitment to bring hard work and dedication in the practice of law for the benefit of the clients that he serves here. When not practicing law, he is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys the many outdoor recreational opportunities that Northeastern Pennsylvania provides. He enjoys spending time with his family and frineds.  He is committed to carrying on his profession and serving the people of his hometown and those living throughout the region that he grew up in.