Tom Kline's Trial as Theatre

Mr. Kline is a founding Partner, along with Shanin Specter, of the Philadelphia law firm of Kline and Specter, P.C., described by the Philadelphia Inquirer as "one of the country's leading personal injury firms." Mr. Kline and his firm practices catastrophic injury, complex personal injury, whistleblower, and mass tort law. 

Throughout his career, Mr. Kline has obtained record-setting jury verdicts and settlements in pharmaceutical litigation, products liability cases, premises liability, work-place accidents, automobile litigation, and medical malpractice. In addition to the large awards for compensation that Mr. Kline has achieved for his clients, many of his cases have served as an instrument for safety changes in medicine, products, and the workplace.

Mr. Kline is consistently ranked as one of the top lawyers in Philadelphia and the country. He is an elected member of the American Law Institute, the American College of Trial Lawyers, and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.  

His awards include the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association's Michael A. Mussmano Award (2016); the Legal Intelligencer's Lifetime Achievement Award (2014); "No. 1 Attorney among 65,000 in Pennsylvania," Super Lawyers magazine (2004–2023); Top 500 "Leading Lawyers in America," Lawdragon listing him as "the leading personal injury plaintiffs' lawyer in Pennsylvania." He was also named to the National Law Journal's "Winning Hall of Fame" as one of fewer than 100 American lawyers selected for compiling "significant bench or jury trial verdicts and who has a record of success over many years." Mr. Kline is a member and past president of the Inner Circle of Advocates, described by the Washington Post as "100 of the nation's most celebrated trial lawyers."  

Mr. Kline received a bachelor's degree from Albright College, a master's degree from Lehigh University, and a JD from Duquesne University School of Law. In 2017, he established the Thomas R. Kline Center for Judicial Education at Duquesne University School of Law. He was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus award from both his college and law school.  

Mr. Kline has taught at many institutions including Lehigh, Duquesne, Temple University Beasley School of Law, Jefferson Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, and the National Judicial College in Reno, NV. 

In September 2014, Drexel named the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law and established the Thomas R. Kline Institute of Trial Advocacy in Mr. Kline's honor.  In 2022, Duquesne similarly named its law school the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University.   

Mr. Kline was elected to the Drexel Board of Trustees in 2012 and has served on the Executive Committee and other committees.  In addition, he is the Chair of the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law Board. He is a recipient of the Jacovini Outstanding Service Award. 

In 2023, Mr. Kline was awarded two honorary degrees from Duquesne University:  Doctor of Law and Doctor of Humane Letters.

Mr. Kline is the producer, director, writer, and performer of the acclaimed Trial as Theatre which has been performed many times at the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia. There have also been multiple performances of Bob Dylan and the Law under the Trial as Theatre banner written by and co-performed with playwright Zac Kline.