Get to Know: Adam S. Alexander

Adam Alexander is the principal at the Alexander Law Firm in Southfield, where he concentrates on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, (FDCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act, (FCRA), Michigan Lemon Law, debtor defense, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, (TCPA), and other consumer protection and class action cases. His associate, Andrew R. Mikos, specializes in criminal law.

Alexander earned a bachelor’s degree in humanities/pre-law from Michigan State in 1988, and earned his J.D. from the Detroit College of Law in 1996.  He is the current co-chair for the National Association of Consumer Advocates for the state of Michigan, a member of the Oakland County Bar Association, and the Consumer Protection Division of the Michigan State Bar. He is licensed to practice in all Michigan state and federal courts, the Michigan Court of Appeals, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

By Jo Mathis
Legal News

Residence: Royal Oak and Napa, Calif.

When you were considering law school, what was Plan B? I was meant to be a lawyer. I honestly had no back up plan.

What would surprise people about your job? It’s not as glamorous as people think. Movies such as “Lincoln Lawyer” and shows like “Suits” are flattering but only portray the “show time” lawyer. Most of my workdays involve research, preparation and client communication that would seem mundane to most people.

What is your proudest moment as a lawyer? I feel like all my successes are similar and I’m proud of them all.  Stopping unlawful bank foreclosures and saving people’s homes is the thing that puts a smile on my face.

What was always written on your grade school report card? Good grades and “Good citizenship.” Does anyone remember “citizenship?”  Basically, a “works well with others” evaluation.

Favorite local hangouts:
Ronin Sushi, Fifth Avenue Billiards and I love the Pita Café by my office in Southfield.

Favorite websites:
espn.com, rueters.com, detroitnews.com and of course milawyersweekly.com.

What is your most treasured material possession? My wedding ring.

What is your happiest childhood memory? My best moments were with family. I have five brothers and one sister and I have fond memories of hanging out at our family property in Fife Lake, Michigan, during the summers.

What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received? That I listened and cared about someone’s problem, and took action to help.

What do you wish someone would invent? An app that disables smart phones while driving or walking. Only stationary access.

When you look back into the past, what do you miss most? I miss the Royal Oak Boys Club in my youth, and all the friendships, camaraderie and activities offered at the club.

What is your most typical mood? I go about my days in a determined mode, with purpose. However, I would say typically my mood is positive and unflappable.

What’s the most awe-inspiring place you’ve ever been? Kauai. Sunshine, ocean, mountains, canyons, volcanoes, rain forest. It is all there on a little magical island in the Pacific. 

If you could have witnessed any event in history, what would it be?
VE Day.

What were you doing in your last selfie? Having lunch with my wife, Gina, in Waikiki.

Who is on your guest list for the ideal dinner party? My Mom and Dad are on that list for sure. I’ll go with Benjamin Franklin, Jacqueline Kennedy, Nelson Mandela, Mozart, Ernest Hemingway, and Julia Child. (It’s a dinner party, after all.)

What question do you most often ask yourself?
Where’s the beef?

If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would that be?
Any professional golfer. I want to break 70.

What’s something you changed your mind about recently?
Social media. Social media for marketing has provided uneven results for me. I have scaled back and found that for my specialty, traditional referrals and word of mouth are a priority.

What word do you overuse?
“Outstanding!” I use this to describe way too may experiences including food, wine, my mood, fashion, the weather, etc.

What is one thing you would like to learn to do? 
Surf.

What is something most people don’t know about you?
I play billiards at a high level. I began playing at age seven.

What is the best advice you ever received?
My Dad strongly advised me to get a liberal arts degree. Those subjects that form the foundation of learning how to think. For me, this was the best advice, and it has served me well.
 

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