Dave Ryan
Dave is a lifelong resident of Tuscaloosa. After graduating from Tuscaloosa public schools he received both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Alabama. He has practiced law in Tuscaloosa continuously since that time, opening his own firm, Ryan Law, in 2019. Dave practices in the areas of school law, employment litigation, construction, trucking, personal injury, and wrongful death. He has represented clients in state and federal courts throughout the West Alabama area, as well as before the EEOC, the Office of Civil Rights, and various other administrative agencies. Dave has served as an adjunct professor with the University of Alabama School of Law and Shelton State Community College. He is a frequent presenter in the areas of school and employment law. Dave and his wife Laura have three children, Reid and Jackson, who are both students at the University of Alabama, and Carson, who attends Northridge High School.
Claire Smelser
Claire was born and raised in Tuscaloosa. After graduating from high school, she attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. At SMU, she was a member of the Chi Omega Fraternity, as well as K-Life and Reformed University Fellowship groups.She then returned to Tuscaloosa and received her juris doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law in May 2019. During her time at UA, she was Lead Articles Editor for the Law and Psychology Review, Vice President of the Christian Legal Society, and a member of the Dobrin Association, which promotes the growth and professional development of women in the law. She also married her husband, John David, who teaches and coaches high school students. Claire’s passion for the practice of law found root in education law, labor and employment law, and general litigation. When Claire is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family on Lake Tuscaloosa, and taking walks around UA campus and the Riverwalk with her husband.