Meet Kayla Murphy

My path to criminal defense didn't begin in a courtroom. It started as a kid, sitting next to my dad while we watched Cops and America's Most Wanted.

At first I thought I wanted to be a prosecutor. I imagined myself as a kind of law enforcement officer who, instead of carrying a weapon, would use her mind to argue for the government and put the "bad guys" away.

As I grew older I realized my calling was the other chair. People are dynamic, and criminal behavior often grows from complicated and painful roots. I noticed how harshly people I knew judged themselves when they made mistakes, and it became clear that I wanted to stand on the side of understanding, fairness and second chances. I've always rooted for the underdog, and I believe everyone deserves an advocate in their corner.

Training

I earned my degree in Law and Justice from Central Washington University, where I was President of the Mock Trial Team and received the Top Cat Award and recognition as Outstanding Graduating Student of the department. I then attended the University of Oregon School of Law, where I worked in the Criminal Defense and Domestic Violence Clinics and volunteered inside a juvenile detention facility, helping incarcerated youth continue their education. Those years confirmed that defense work was exactly where I belonged.

Practice

Since 2020 I've defended people accused of crimes in the Wenatchee Valley, first as a public defender and then in private practice. In 2023 I founded K. Murphy Law, PLLC with a simple mission: give my community the knowledge and the advocacy they need to get through the criminal system with confidence and integrity.

A mentor once told me that criminal defense attorneys are janitors, not magicians. I agree. But there is something magical about standing up to a powerful adversary and building the argument that protects someone's rights.

Beyond the courtroom

I co-host Drinks with Defenders, a podcast with fellow defense attorney Addie that tries to make the law understandable and a little less scary. I've been a guest on Locked In with Ian Bick, Barely Famous with Kail Lowry, The Prosecutors' Legal Briefs and NCW Life Channel, and Wenatchee Business World named me to its 30 Under 35. Listen and watch.

Being accused of a crime is overwhelming. You don't have to face it alone. Call me at (509) 630-3492.