Ryan grew up in Knoxville, Iowa and attended Northwest Missouri State University for his undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice. While at Northwest, Ryan played football for the Bearcats. For his last semester, Ryan worked as an intern with a criminal defense lawyer in Washington D.C. This experience led to his passion for trial work.  Upon graduation from Northwest, Ryan attended law school at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.

In 1998, Ryan moved back to central Iowa to be close to family and to work in a small firm before becoming a Drug Prosecutor for the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Task Force in Marion and Warren Counties. As a drug prosecutor, Ryan handled misdemeanor and felony drug cases, worked very closely with law enforcement, assisted with search warrants and instructed officers on procedures and search and seizure.

Ellis Law Offices, P.C. was born in 2003.  In his twenty-three years of practice, Ryan has handled thousands of criminal and civil cases.  Ryan handles car wrecks, personal injury and worker’s compensation cases.  He has secured millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his clients.  Ryan has handled criminal cases ranging from simple misdemeanors to two First Degree Murder trials. He has also handled many drunk driving cases and is certified in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. Ryan has served as an adjunct professor with Simpson College in the areas of Criminal Justice, Criminal Procedure, Family and Juvenile Law and Theories of Juvenile Delinquency.

Ryan also has vast experience in handling family law, divorce and custody cases.  In recent years, Ellis Law Offices, P.C. has expanded its transactional practice.  Ryan represents many small businesses and handles other transactional work such as real estate, estate planning, and probate.

Ryan is respected for his ability to investigate cases and provide zealous and ethical representation of clients. He was recognized as one of the Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys by National Trial Lawyers.

Education

• Creighton University School of Law (J.D. 1997)
• Northwest Missouri State University (B.A. 1993)

Community Leadership

• Indianola Chamber of Commerce – Board of Directors
• Indianola Athletic Booster Club—Board of Directors
• Warren County Leadership – Board of Directors 2002
• Iowa County Attorney Legislative Committee 2002
• Simpson College Criminal Justice Advisory Board
• Indianola RAGBRAI committee co-chair
• Indianola High School Softball—Assistant Varsity Coach 2012-2013
• Former Volunteer Mock Trial Coach and Judge
• Founder of Indianola Youth Football Scholarship
• Pitching Coach for Indianola High School Softball
• Assistant and Pitching Coach for Youth Softball
• Junior Achievement Volunteer Teacher 1998-2001

Achievements and Awards

• Warren County Leadership Graduate 2001
• The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100