Social Work Pioneer
Joseph T. Monahan (Joe) is founder of the Chicago law firm, Monahan Law Group, LLC. Trained as a social worker before going to law school, Joe has been an active member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for decades.
He joined NASW in 1976; served on the Legal Defense Fund (2003–2007); served on the National Board of NASW (2009–2012); Executive Committee (2009–2012).
Joe is the Founding President of the Board of Directors of the Risk Retention Group. He is a member of the Executive Committee and the Claims Committee, and he is currently a presenter for Preferra Learn.
Over the past three decades as an attorney, Joe and the firm have been involved in groundbreaking legal issues impacting social workers and their clients. Joe successfully argued a case in the Illinois Supreme Court concerning the confidentiality of records in domestic relations proceedings, was lead trial counsel on the first same-sex adoption case in Illinois and also was the plaintiff (then later appointed co-chair of the Rule 706 expert panel) in the largest lawsuit ever brought against DCFS. Joe and the firm represent approximately 90 hospitals in the Chicago metropolitan area and provide legal representation and advocacy to numerous outpatient mental health clinics, child welfare agencies, and social workers throughout the state.
Joe received his MSW from the University of Illinois in Champaign, and his JD from DePaul University College of Law. He previously taught Mental Health Law at Loyola University Chicago Law School for 29 years.