By ADAM STEWART

News editor

When Josh Boehm decided to enter law school in 2009, he knew he wanted to stay in the Midwest, but he wanted to study somewhere far enough away from his native Wisconsin that home wouldn’t be a distraction to his studies.

He chose Washburn University in Topeka, and after finishing his law degree, he knew he wanted to stay in Kansas but didn’t want to be in Kansas City or Wichita. Boehm saw that Brookens Law Office in Marion and Hillsboro had an opening for an associate attorney, and he inquired about the opening. After meeting Bob Brookens and visiting the area, he decided it was a good match and accepted an offer to join the firm as an associate.

He doesn’t anticipate that there will be as much courtroom work as there would be in Topeka or Wichita, and he considers that a good thing.

“A lot of people are able to work stuff out, but you always have to be prepared to go to court,” Boehm said.

He said he is happy to work in a small community and likes how people have treated him as a newcomer, as well as the proximity of places like Emporia and McPherson for recreation. He feels comfortable, he said Monday. Boehm began work June 6.

The area also reminds him of Wisconsin more than most of Kansas.

“I like having the water and lakes around,” he said.

Growing up, Boehm enjoyed hunting, fishing, and playing baseball and soccer. He played soccer throughout high school and during college at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisc. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing in 2006.

After college, he worked for Menards for about a year, finishing as a front-end manager in one of the company’s stores in Madison, Wisc. He then spent two years as a district executive for the Boy Scouts of America, working on fundraising and membership before entering law school.

He worked as a clerk for the Lawfirm of Tenopir and Huerter for the past two years.

He and his wife, Courtney, have been married a little more than one year. She graduated from law school in May and is studying for the Kansas Bar Examination in July. They enjoy running and biking together.