Alexander (Alex) Myers is an associate in Tressler’s Local Government and Litigation Practice Groups. His practice is primarily focused on civil rights litigation, tort litigation, employment litigation and counseling, eminent domain, and matters arising from section 1983.

Alex earned his B.A. from Indiana University Bloomington and his J.D. from Indiana University Maurer School of Law, where he was a champion in the 2023 Indiana University Internal Mock Trial Competition and Oral Advocacy Honors in the 2023 Sherman Minton Moot Court Competition.

What was your first job?

My first job was at Ritter’s Frozen Custard during high school, where I made waffle cones. After graduating from college, I worked as a bartender at Kilroy’s in Bloomington, IN.

Do you have any hidden talents and/or unique hobbies?

Nowadays, I mostly enjoy cooking and collecting whiskey. Right after college, however, I spent much of my free time riding motorcycles and writing music. I could probably still pick up a guitar and play, but I’m not as confident that I could still ride a motorcycle.

Why did you decide to become an attorney?

Becoming an attorney was always on my radar. However, after college, I had some reservations. One of my biggest concerns was seeing friends who had gone straight to law school burn out because they had never stopped to consider whether they were truly willing to commit to the profession’s demands. That made me pause and led me to take a different path for a while. I spent the next few years bartending throughout Indiana while figuring out what I really wanted to do. In the end, my focus returned to the legal profession, and I decided to pursue a career as an attorney. Coincidentally, law school was also where I met my wife, so I’m always thankful I took the extra time.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

My typical day depends on whether I need to be in court. If I have a 9:00 or 10:00 a.m. hearing, the morning starts a little slower. I usually take my dog on a longer walk around the block before catching the 135 CTA bus. Being able to go directly to court saves me some time. However, on most days, I arrive at the office between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m. Like everyone else, I spend the first meaningful part of my day digging through emails. After that, I usually identify one or two main tasks that need to get done, such as drafting motions or reviewing documents. I center my day around completing those main objectives and fill in the remaining time with anything else that comes up.

Why did you choose your areas of practice?

Litigation has always been my favorite part of the law. I like that there is a clear win condition. I am naturally competitive, so I enjoy knowing that I either succeeded because I presented the stronger case or came away with valuable lessons to improve the next time.

What do you like most about Tressler?

My favorite part about Tressler is the people. I have worked a lot of different jobs throughout my life, and while there are some things I enjoy more than being a lawyer and plenty of things I enjoy less, the real difference-maker is always the people you work with. When you have high-caliber colleagues, like we do here, getting up in the morning is easier than you might think.

What are you most proud of, professionally and/or personally?

I take pride in my creativity. I used to work at the Indiana Attorney General’s office. My friend called my office “The R&D Department” because people were always coming by to bounce ideas around. I won’t say that we always walked away with the best ideas, but we always walked away a little smarter, and a little more prepared than when we started. It’s easy to get into a rut in this job. However, working with those people helped remind me that the small differences in each case can really add up, and often times open up entire new defenses that you never would have thought of. By staying creative I can stay close to that original joy that made me want to litigate.

What personal experience has had the greatest impact on who you are today?

I took my LSAT during a cross-country road trip through Idaho. It was October 2019, and I had just given my mom some of the best news of her life: I was going to take the LSAT. What I neglected to mention was that I had signed up for the test in Idaho in the middle of a motorcycle trip she knew nothing about.

Like any well-planned trip, I decided to head north in the middle of October so I could visit Yellowstone and the Rockies. Needless to say, the trip quickly became a harrowing journey. Outside of a few nice days in Salt Lake City, UT and the Black Hills, SD, I spent most of the next two weeks dodging snow squalls, sleeping at rest stops, and hitchhiking back to small towns to wait out gale-force winds.

Eventually, I puttered my way into Boise, ID, just in time to sit down for the test. From there, I continued on to California, making my way down Highway 101 to connect with the Pacific Coast Highway. It was my first day of nice weather in a long time, so naturally, I ended up going over the handlebars. I traded my bike for a plane ticket, flew home, and haven’t ridden since.