Craig Schlapprizzi

Practice areas: Personal injury

Law school: Washington University

One of the youngest members on the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys Board of Governors, Craig Schlapprizzi has been successful in the courtroom from the start, receiving a $150,000 jury verdict just eight months into the start of his career.

Since then, he’s racked up big numbers in judgments and settlements for wrongful death claims, auto crashes and premises liability matters and is now a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Moreover, he’s done speaking engagements on everything from keeping money and politics out of the courts to ideas for making effective opening statements.

Community involvement has been important for Schlapprizzi as well. He’s been a participant in his alma mater’s Young Alumnae Committee and a board member of Friends of the St. Louis Cathedral which aims to maintain the Cathedral Basilica.

Still, Schlapprizzi remains modest calling himself “the third best lawyer” at his family’s firm behind his sister Toni and father Don to whom he is deeply grateful.

“He is my hero and everything a trial lawyer should be,” he said. “Any success I am fortunate enough to experience, I owe to him.”

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?

Receiving this award. It is a wonderful accolade, and one I am proud of, especially after seeing the names of this year’s recipients.

What has been your favorite moment as an attorney?

Winning a jury trial for your client is pretty awesome. But the most memorable (perhaps not my favorite) moment was after a disappointing jury verdict for a client I really cared for – he expressed emotional and heartfelt gratitude for standing up for him during closing argument. I don’t think anyone in his life had ever done that before, and I felt a great deal of pride and honor in being part of this noble profession.