Tom was born in Great Falls Montana and grew up in Bozeman, Montana.  After graduating from Bozeman High School, Tom joined the United States Navy where he served honorably for 4 years. After his term of military service, Tom returned to Bozeman and attended Montana State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Social and Criminal Justice in 1986 with high honors.  After graduation from MSU, Tom attended the University of Montana Law School where he graduated in 1990.  During law school, Tom assisted nationally esteemed law professor Karl Tobias, and interned for the Missoula City Attorney as a criminal prosecutor.

After graduating from law school, Tom clerked for the Honorable Jeffery Sherlock in the Montana First Judicial District Court in Helena, Montana. He then accepted a position as a City of Missoula Deputy City Attorney where he served as a criminal prosecutor and civil attorney for nearly a decade.

In 2000, Tom struck out on his own, when he opened the doors to Orr Law Offices, P.C. Specializing in real estate law, contract law, landlord-tenant law, family law, adoptions, civil rights, and other areas of civil litigation, Tom successfully grew the firm as a solo attorney until 2019 when Greg McDonnell joined the firm at which time additional practice areas such as personal injury, employment law, civil rights were added to the practice.

In addition to his work as City Prosecutor, Tom was a Missoula County Public School Trustee from 2004 until 2008.  He also served as a board member on the Missoula Housing Authority from 2000 until 2005.  He served as the chair of the Housing Authority Board from 2001 until 2003.

When not practicing law, Tom spends time traveling with his wife, and scuba diving in warm tropical oceans.