Clay A. Alger, Esq.
Licensed in: Utah and Arizona
Primary Office: Salt Lake City
Phone: (801) 478-8080
Clay A. Alger is a partner at Shumway Van’s Salt Lake City office. Mr. Alger graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. After graduation he attended the University of Utah’s, S.J Quinney College of Law where he graduated with high honors and received his Juris Doctorate. While attending law school, Mr. Alger served on the Utah Law Review as a senior staff member. During that same time Mr. Alger published an article in that same publication that discussed Utah’s Highway Dedication Doctrine and matters relating to public prescriptive easements. Mr. Alger also earned the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Administrative Law, an award that is granted to the highest scoring individual at a particular law school. He then proceeded to earn the S.J Quinney College of Law Outstanding Achievement Award in regards to Property Law; this award is reserved for the most apt and able law student for a specific semester.
Following these achievements, before graduation and prior to joining Shumway Van’s Salt Lake City law firm, Mr. Alger gained significant experience as a law clerk for the Litigation Division of the Utah Attorney General’s Office. Upon his admittance to the Utah State Bar, Mr. Alger began his own private practice in Salt Lake City, Utah where he practiced primarily criminal defense and family law. While operating his solo practice, Mr. Alger gained applicable experience and developed a reputation for being one of Salt Lake City’s most thorough and affable Utah attorneys.
Mr. Alger’s philosophy for law can be summed up easily, “I am committed to helping clients navigate the legal system efficiently and effectively. Client involvement is important to me; I consider the attorney-client relationship a collaboration to achieve a desired goal. My goal is to provide high quality legal services at a reasonable and competitive rate. Many attorneys encourage unnecessary litigation so that they can excessively bill their clients. That philosophy is counterproductive in my opinion. I prefer to work towards a resolution that is best for the client, whether that means resolving a case early and amicably, or pursuing litigation aggressively if needed.”
Mr. Alger's practice is currently focused on immigration law, an area with which he has extensive experience. Mr. Alger also has experience with criminal defense and civil litigation and continues to practice in those areas. Mr. Alger has continued to passionately and firmly pursue the ever-evolving world of law, so that he may accurately and effectively serve each of his clients in the best manner possible. Since joining Shumway Van Mr. Alger has obtained immense experience in immigration law and has represented multiple clients before several legal bodies including USCIS, immigration court (EOIR), the Board of Immigration Appeals, and other state and federal courts. In addition, his ability to speak and write fluently in Portuguese has expanded Shumway Van’s Salt Lake City law firm and allowed the opportunity to serve more clients in their pursuit of justice. His constant dedication to Shumway Van, and his accomplishment in becoming a lawyer Utah residents can have trust in, has made him a valuable and respected attorney at our firm.
In Clay’s spare time, you can find him playing on the guitar, hiking through the trails of Utah and above all, spending time with his wife and their three daughters.
Representative Cases:
State v. Maxwell, 2011 UT 81, 275 P.3d 220: briefed and argued before the Utah Supreme Court a Fourth Amendment Search and Seizure case of first impression.
Winward v. State, 2012 UT 85, 293 P.3d 259: Drafted an appellate brief before the Utah Supreme Court that resulted in a favorable determination on client’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim.
Briefed multiple cases on appeal to the Utah Court of Appeals.
Successfully defended several criminal defendants, including securing dismissals in DUI, drug, and domestic violence matters.
Defended the rights of a professional athlete.
Represented a major lender in a high profile collection matter against local athlete.
Represented and advised multiple police officers in various civil matters.
Successfully represented business through Chapter 11 bankruptcy and had reorganization plans confirmed.
Obtained a high collection rate on behalf of a large home owner’s association for unpaid assessments.
Successfully settled multi-million dollar fraud litigation for a number of victims.
Represented local business in high-profile multi-million dollar FTC litigation.
Successfully represented a number of parents in DCFS child custody matters.
Represented several large creditors in multi-million dollar fraud litigation.
Represented lenders in multiple high dollar real estate litigation cases involving, among other things: eminent domain, commercial foreclosure, asset foreclosure, bankruptcy, fraud, and breach of contract.
Prevailed on the merits and obtained large attorney fee award in hotly contested boundary dispute.
Sued multiple government agencies for civil rights violations.
Successfully defended consumers against lawsuit filed by large bank.