Dave Ayers is admitted to practice before the Minnesota and Wisconsin Courts, the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, and the United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Minnesota with a specialization in Criminal Justice Studies. In 1978, he received his law degree from Hamline University School of Law.

After graduation from law school, Dave practiced law with one of the premier criminal defense law firms in the state of Minnesota, where he assisted in the defense of three of the most infamous first degree murder cases ever brought to trial in Minnesota: State vs. Caldwell, State vs. Howard and State vs. Mikulanec. During the past 25 years, Dave has established a successful trial record in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. He has successfully tried a wide range of criminal and civil cases. In his extensive criminal trial practice, he has represented hundreds of individuals charged with all types of crimes, including: assault, criminal sexual conduct, criminal vehicular operation, drug possession and sale, DWI, homicide, kidnapping, robbery, theft and white collar offenses. Additionally, he is experienced in high profile cases involving professionals.

Dave is a member and past-President of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice, a group of criminal defense lawyers who aggressively defend DWI and other criminal cases.

He is one of twelve lawyers who serve members of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, representing officers who face critical incidents and / or criminal charges. Dave is one of eight lawyers in Minnesota to receive the Minnesota Judges' Choice Awards in three categories, including: WINS THE MOST CASES and MOST PREPARED. He is profiled in Who's Who in Criminal Law and Who's Who in Personal Injury. Dave has been selected as a Leading Minnesota Lawyer. Since 1997, he has been selected, annually, as a Super Lawyer by Minnesota Law and Politics magazine. These two distinctions are earned by fewer than 6% of Minnesota lawyers, as determined by a statewide survey of lawyers. Dave has also been selected by his peers as one of Minnesota's TOP 40 Criminal Law SuperLawyers.

Dave lectures locally and nationally at legal seminars on criminal law, criminal procedure and trial tactics. He also volunteers as an attorney-advisor to Peer Court, a Dakota County Juvenile Court program for juvenile offenders.

Dave is married, has four children and is a lifelong resident of the St. Paul area. He graduated from Cretin High School in St. Paul. Dave's community involvement includes: St. Paul Golden Gloves (former boxer, instructor); Mendota Heights Athletic Association (former baseball, hockey, & softball coach; former Softball Commissioner); St. Joseph's School (former softball and swimming coach); Sibley Area Fastpitch (former coach and Director); volunteer at various school fundraising events and parent committees at Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul.