Alumni Spotlight: Jim Murray '04 Apply NowRequest Info
Habitat for Humanity, San Francisco
Very often, the people you encounter and the experiences you enjoy in life shape who and what you will ultimately become. Such is the case with Jim Murray, Director of Government and Legal Affairs for Habitat for Humanity in San Francisco, which partners with working families and engages the community to build homeownership.
After graduating from Boston College, Murray served society’s marginalized for a year as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, during which time he worked at the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice in San Francisco. “I knew at the time that I wanted to attend law school, but the Jesuit Volunteer Corps helped me hone in on the type of school I wanted to attend,” says Murray. “I looked for a great clinical program, and was also interested in a law school with a top trial advocacy program. Notre Dame had both. But what put Notre Dame over the top was the sense of community I had heard about there. Others who attended ND Law explained the close-knit environment and cooperative attitude, and after visiting NDLS I knew it was the place for me.”
Once at Notre Dame, Murray connected with clinical professor Judy Fox, whose area of expertise is consumer law. Fox does a great deal of work on fair housing issues, which resonated with Murray and continues to influence his work today. “I hadn’t considered focusing on housing when I began law school,” says Murray. “Judy shaped that decision by providing a realistic view of the problem as well as concrete ways I could help people. When I met clients in unfair housing situations as a student at Notre Dame’s Legal Aid Clinic, I realized that they were hardworking people who just needed an advocate to help navigate the process. Notre Dame educates exceptional lawyers, but more importantly, builds strong and ethical leaders to solve problems in the legal community and beyond.”
Murray landed his position at Habitat for Humanity after a placement during his Fellowship in Public Affairs at the Coro Center for Civic Leadership. “I had the opportunity to speak with Justice Baxter while working at the Supreme Court of California, who shared his experience as a Coro Fellow, and encouraged me to pursue my passion for public interest law.” Murray’s current work involves helping to acquire land at no cost or deep discount, and spearheading the entitlement process—getting the land Habitat acquires approved for Habitat to build affordable homes. Murray is also an advocate, working to educate people about affordable housing, especially government leaders that influence housing policy in one of the most expensive housing markets in the nation.
Habitat for Humanity shares many parallel values with the University of Notre Dame; family, community, service, and faith. “I think it’s important—even life-changing—for law students or prospective law students to know that the traditional practice of law is not the only option once they graduate,” says Murray. “There are opportunities to serve communities that are in tremendous need for legal expertise, and my law degree and experiences from Notre Dame have helped me immensely in working with a wide range of people and issues in the non-profit sector.”
Jim Murray is originally from Sandusky, Ohio and currently lives in San Francisco with his wife Anna Marie, and their baby son Thomas. Jim was the President of the Public Interest Law Forum, a member of the Barristers Mock Trial Team, and an Assistant Rector at Keenan Hall while attending Notre Dame Law School. The accompanying photograph of Jim is taken in front of the tallest new Habitat for Humanity structure ever built, a five-story building located in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco. 
