Joseph L. Bauer Jr.

Joseph L. Bauer, Jr., was born in Danville, Illinois. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in commerce from St. Louis University. He received his Juris Doctor degree from St. Louis University in 1975. While attending St. Louis University School of Law, he clerked for the Legal Aid Society of St. Louis. He is a partner of the law firm of Bauer & Baebler. The firm is nationally designated counsel for the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen and the I.B.E.W., and approved by the Brotherhood of Boilermakers.

After graduating from law school, he worked at Legal Aid Society of St. Louis handling major social litigation. He then worked briefly for the Missouri Attorney General. From 1977 to 1983 he was an Assistant Circuit Attorney in St. Louis where he was one of the top trial attorneys in that office, specializing in prosecuting murder cases, cases of rape, serious assaults and repeat offenders. From 1983 to the present, he has been a trial lawyer specializing in personal injury cases and railroad personal injury cases. He has tried many FELA cases against railroads with excellent results. In 1993 Joe Bauer and Drew Baebler formed the law firm of Bauer & Baebler.

Cases he has tried have resulted in juries assessing damages against railroads including: $645,000 for a switchman lifting a pinlifter; $753,000 for death of a brakeman hit in the head by a switch handle; $450,000 for a knee injury to a brakeman in a derailment; $550,000 for a back injury to a clerk lifting a desk; $512,000 for a brakeman lifting a pinlifter and stepping in a hole; and $1,300,000 for a carman installing an air brake reservoir. Recently, after a week of trial on behalf of a Burlington Northern conductor, the railroad paid a $1,500,000 settlement to a brain damaged worker. Joe has tried nationally precedent setting cases, including the first case involving the Union Pacific Railroad's Internal placement program and rehabilitation program with excellent results.

He is licensed to practice law in Missouri and Illinois. He is licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court. He is also licensed to practice in numerous Federal Courts. He is a member of the Illinois Bar, Missouri Bar and American Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (where he is a member of the Board of Governors) and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Joe is certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Certified Civil Trial Specialist. This national organization recognizes proficiency in the field of civil jury trial work. In addition to his trial experience, he has lectured at St. Louis University Law School and Washington University Law School on trial techniques. He has also assisted Washington University Law School's Mock Trial Team in preparation for national competition.