Alexander Beale ’18

Widener Law Commonwealth alumnus built a plaintiff practice around purpose and real people

Some lawyers find their calling in a courtroom. Alexander Beale discovered his in a quiet conference room during a college summer job, watching anxiety lift off a couple who simply needed a plan for their family. That moment started him down a path that now places him among Colorado’s leading plaintiff attorneys, where he fights for people facing some of the most painful moments of their lives.

Beale, who graduated from Widener University Commonwealth Law School in 2018, founded Beale Legal Counselors in 2023 after building an impressive litigation career at one of Colorado’s largest plaintiff firms. His practice represents clients injured by car crashes, slip and fall accidents, dangerous products and other preventable harms. He also handles complex class action cases involving consumer protection violations that can affect thousands of people at once.

“The most memorable cases are the ones where someone’s entire life changes in a moment, and you are trying to help them find a way forward,” he said.

Beale grew up in Lewisburg and Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, and entered college expecting to work in the Department of State. But a part-time job at a family friend’s estate planning office changed everything. Helping design a plan that protected a family’s most vulnerable member, he realized law could be more than policy and theory. It could be personal.

That interest eventually led him to Widener Law Commonwealth, which he chose for its proximity to home and strong financial aid incentives. Scholarships and grants allowed him to focus entirely on academics rather than juggling multiple jobs. After a successful first year, he considered transferring, but Widener continued to open doors and offered the support he needed to stay.

A turning point came through Professor Christopher Robinette, whose torts and products liability courses introduced Beale to real-world legal battles over dangerous products and corporate responsibility. Beale worked as Robinette’s research assistant and immersed himself in cases that revealed how high corporate stakes could be and how often ordinary people paid the price.

“I found myself admiring the lawyers who took on giants like Ford Motor Company and other corporate behemoths,” Beale said. “Their work revealed how often profits were put above people.”

After graduation, Beale moved to Colorado, passed the bar examination, and quickly found himself in trial work. Within his first year, he was already trying cases in court and handling litigation that stretched across state and national issues. What began as class action work soon expanded into personal injury, consumer protection, and medical malpractice, including the niche field of dental malpractice.

Class actions are lawsuits where one or more plaintiffs represent a larger group of people facing the same injury or legal harm. Beale’s work in this area led to several victories, including a settlement valued at more than $500 million that addressed predatory practices involving GAP insurance refunds for consumers. GAP insurance is a product that covers the difference between the value of a car and the loan amount if the vehicle is totaled in a crash. His team found that many dealers and lenders were failing to refund consumers when loans were paid off early.

“That case made a real difference for people who could least afford the loss,” he said.

Beale opened his own firm to practice in a way that reflects his values. Every client has his cell phone number, and every case begins with building trust. His Italian heritage strongly influences that approach. As a proud first-generation American on his mother’s side, his sense of community shapes how he advocates, communicates and makes time for clients who are often navigating injuries, fear and uncertainty.

Today, Beale continues to try cases before juries, argue appeals, and serve as co-counsel to the Law Office of Christopher B. Dominick, P.C., Littleton Lawyers, and more. Beale has made a name for himself as the person other firms call when cases need a seasoned litigator. His work has earned recognition by the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, Lawyer of Distinction, and the American Institute of Trial Lawyers Litigator of the Year.

While Beale’s career has moved quickly, his advice for future lawyers focuses on grounding rather than speed: Talk to practicing attorneys. Understand what daily life actually looks like in different fields. And find a purpose behind the long hours.

“If you can find work that gives you purpose, you will be far happier than someone who works only for a paycheck,” he said. “Helping people through some of the worst moments of their lives gives me the deepest sense of meaning.”

Interview conducted in Winter 2025.