From the classroom to the courtroom, University of Montevallo alum Daniel McBrayer has forged a successful path as an assistant United States attorney, demonstrating his strong commitment to justice and public service. As a high schooler looking to further his education, he didn’t simply choose Montevallo — in his words, Montevallo chose him.
“I wasn’t a great high school student, and my parents limited my options on where I could go,” the Pelham native said. “While that seemed harsh at the time, it was quite the blessing in disguise. Montevallo was exactly where I needed to be.”
McBrayer pursued a major in political science as a building block toward a future in law. He later chose to add a second major in management, noting the value of a business background in any career.
“The small school experience was key for me, and part of that is the professors I had in those programs,” he said. “Dr. Scott Turner, Dr. Jack Hamilton, Dr. Harry Hamilton and Dr. Jim Day — people who clearly loved their job and loved educating and working with students every day. That’s so much of what makes Montevallo what it is.”
After earning his bachelor’s degrees in management and political science in 2008, McBrayer immediately enrolled in law school at The University of Alabama. While studying, he interned at both the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office and the Tuscaloosa County District Attorney’s Office. He earned his juris doctorate in 2011 and began his career at the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office in Selma, handling trials and hearings for violations, misdemeanors and felonies.
Returning to the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office in 2013, McBrayer served as an assistant district attorney and later the chief trial assistant district attorney, where he mainly prosecuted cases involving violent crimes and crimes against children. During this time, an opportunity arose with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Birmingham for him to come on as a part-time assistant U.S. attorney while still working full time in Shelby County.
“My boss at the time was gracious enough to allow me to wear those two different hats at once,” he said. “When a position opened up with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, I was hired, and now I work on violent crimes and child exploitation crimes.”
As a full-time assistant U.S. attorney since 2022, McBrayer’s time is mostly spent reviewing cases and evidence, drafting indictments and motions, preparing plea agreements and making sure that cases move expeditiously through the district court.
“What I’ve learned in the practice of law and especially working as a prosecutor is that there’s at least two sides to every story,” McBrayer said. “While that may seem trite, speaking to witnesses and giving victims an opportunity to have their voice heard — even if it doesn’t result in a conviction — can sometimes be as important as any other outcome.”
As a Falcon, McBrayer served as Student Government Association president and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha, Interfraternity Council, Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity, Justice Council, Montevallo Masters and the Order of Omega. One of his standout memories from UM was being in the Gold Side cast his freshman year and spending long nights rehearsing for the College Night production.
“It’s so core to the Montevallo experience,” he said. “If you meet somebody else from Montevallo, you have to ask, ‘What were you?’ Even if the person didn’t participate, they knew people on one side or the other.”
McBrayer’s main advice to current students is to start thinking about their career goals early in their college experience, as the steps one takes even as a freshman or a sophomore can be the foundation for future career success.
“Especially if you are involved in a club or an organization where you have contact with alumni of a specific college or major — those contacts are people that you will likely work with for the rest of your career,” he said. “Telling them about your interest in the field and expressing interest in what they do can get you invaluable opportunities and can lead to experience in the field early.”
