Ian T. Murphy, 38

Associate, Margulis Gelfand, St. Louis

Practice Areas: White-collar and criminal defense, complex civil litigation, appellate practice

Law School: Washington University

“There is more to life than the billable hour,” Ian Murphy says. “Find something that you’re passionate about. Then work with people who recognize and reward that passion.”

Murphy is passionate about the legal profession because he considers it the best way for him to serve others. One of his favorite moments as an attorney came when he was able to prevail in the Missouri Court of Appeals, obtaining a reversal on all counts of conviction for a client who had been sentenced to serve 20 years in prison. He still remembers that call he made to let the client know the good news.

The best career advice Murphy has received and passes along to others is to trust your instincts. And never send an email you wouldn’t want to see on the front page of the newspaper someday.

In his time away from work, Murphy enjoys long runs, going to St. Louis Cardinals games and spending time with his family. “During the past year, I was raising a 1-year-old while surviving a pandemic and helping my clients,” he says. “That was quite an accomplishment.”

What is something about you that would surprise people?

Before I went to law school, I was the captain of my college ultimate Frisbee team; managed a unique restaurant and music venue outside Bozeman, Montana; and ran a music production studio.

If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what profession would you have chosen?

If it were up to me, I’d play shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals. But if I had to choose something more realistic, I probably would have chosen a career in audio and video production.