Joseph J. Mashinski, Esq.

About Joseph

Joseph J. Mashinski has practiced law in Pennsylvania since 2005. He grew up in the Wyoming Valley, earned his A.B. in U.S. History from Princeton University and his J.D. from the Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law, and began his career as a law clerk to the Honorable Kevin A. Hess in the Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas.

Much of his career has been spent on the side of the table that injured people rarely get to see. As in-house counsel for a Fortune 500 financial services company, he managed outside litigation and insurance claims and learned first-hand how large institutions evaluate, value and defend claims. That experience is what he brings to every case review at PA Attorney Source: an understanding of how insurers think, and what it takes to make them pay what a claim is actually worth.

Closer to home, Joseph served for seven years as a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem in Luzerne County, representing the interests of children in dependency and delinquency proceedings and advising the court's judges and masters. He has also served as solicitor to the Kingston Borough Zoning Hearing Board and has run his own law practice in the Wyoming Valley since 2012, handling civil and commercial litigation, real estate, estate planning and business disputes.

He has taught law as an adjunct faculty member at Champlain College's Master of Science in Law program and at Lackawanna College in Scranton, and co-authored the second edition of Estate Planning For Dummies (Wiley).

What Joseph does for injured clients

As Managing Attorney, Joseph reviews every case inquiry that comes to the firm. He listens to what happened, explains how Pennsylvania's rules — the two-year statute of limitations, comparative negligence, the limited-tort election on auto policies — apply to your situation, and gives you a straight answer about whether you have a claim worth pursuing. He then matches your case with the right attorney from the firm's network of experienced Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers and stays involved as your point of contact. There is no fee for the consultation, and no attorney fee unless there is a recovery.

Education & admissions

• J.D., The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law, 2005
• A.B., U.S. History, Princeton University, 2000
• Admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 2005
• Member, Pennsylvania Bar Association; American Bar Association

Professional experience

• Managing Member, Mashinski Law Firm LLC (Hughes & Mashinski PC), Forty Fort, PA — 2012 to present
• Guardian ad Litem, Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas — 2015–2022
• Solicitor, Kingston Borough Zoning Hearing Board — 2019–2021
• Counsel, Diversified Investment Advisors, Inc. (an AEGON company) — 2006–2010
• Chief Operating Officer, The Sema4 Group LLC / Abelian Capital Management, Dallas, PA — 2010–2014
• Adjunct Faculty, Master of Science in Law program, Champlain College — 2008–2015; Adjunct Faculty, Lackawanna College — 2015–2016
• Law Clerk to the Hon. Kevin A. Hess, Court of Common Pleas, Carlisle, PA — 2004–2005

Publications & teaching

• Co-author, Estate Planning For Dummies, 2nd edition, Wiley Publishing
• Developed and taught courses in contracts and commercial law, trademarks and unfair competition, patents and trade secrets, and information privacy and security