A small-town atmosphere may not be the stereotypical environment for a new lawyer to build his career, but according to Brandon Bieker, it’s better in almost every way.
Bieker is the newest addition to the Johnson Law Office in Iola. He graduated from Washburn University School of Law in 2013, and passed his bar exam in short order afterward.
“I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer,” Bieker, 27, said while sitting in his new office. He was raised in Colby, and attended high school in Hays, where he graduated in 2005.
As a member of the Future Business Leaders of America while in high school, Bieker said he was always interested in the law aspect of the competitions, which led him to follow a career in law. He made his way to Washburn after receiving his bachelor’s degree in finance from Wichita State University. It’s the constant challenge that attracted him to his trade.
“It’s kind of like a puzzle,” he said. “Once you figure it out, it’s fun to get from point A to point B.”
As for working in a small town, the advantages abound.
First, he said a rural setting lends itself to a much more diverse work portfolio, as opposed to working for a large firm “researching stuck in a closet.”
“Every case is different, since it’s rural law we do a little bit of everything,” he said.
Second, the small-town atmosphere almost guarantees that clients and colleagues will be easier to work with.
“It doesn’t seem so adversarial,” Bieker said. “When people are reasonable it helps the case move more quickly.”
Third, and perhaps most importantly for him, day one meant he was gaining experience in the courtroom — a luxury not often afforded to those working their way from the bottom of a large firm.
“Both Bob (Johnson) and Dan (Schowengerdt) are both really good attorneys, and really easy to work with,” he said. “From day one I’m in the courtroom.”
Bieker is currently searching for a home in Iola, and is looking forward to being more integrated in the community.
“I like the small town feel, where you know everybody,” he said.
He said he fills up most of his free time with fishing, hunting and “lots of sports.” It seems like he’s already starting to fit in
Law office welcomes new lawyer to Iola
