Selecting a lawyer is a critically important decision and often represents a significant personal investment and commitment.  The results obtained in the client's matter may depend on selecting the right lawyer.  

Information is the cornerstone of good decisionmaking.  At the Woods Law Office, we believe that potential clients have a right to know and, given the significant investment, an obligation to discover a wide array of information about the educational background, intellectual capabilities and experiences of the lawyer they are considering utilizing to help them with their legal needs.

On each of these fronts, we believe the Woods Law Office excels.  We hope and trust that after reviewing the information provided here and sitting down with Mr. Woods, you will conclude similarly.

OVERVIEW

*  B.S. Bethel College, N. Newton, Kansas (magna cum laude)

*  J.D. Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (high honors)

*  Certified Public Accountant's certificate (Second High Score, State of Kansas)

*  Law Clerk to the Honorable Howard F. Sachs, United States District Court Judge,             Western District of Missouri

*  Formerly associated with Stinson, Mag & Fizzell and Berkowitz, Feldmiller, Stanton,

Brandt, Williams & Stueve

*  Member of the Kansas and Missouri bars

*  Admitted to practice before all State and Federal Courts in Kansas and Missouri

*  Member of the Missouri Bar Association, the Harvey County Bar and the Kansas City

Metropolitan Bar Association

DETAIL

Mr. Woods grew up in Manhattan and Wichita, Kansas.  He graduated magna cum laude from Bethel College, in North Newton, Kansas with degrees in Accounting and Business Administration.  While attending Bethel College, Mr. Woods took and passed the Certified Public Accountant's (CPA) examination, achieving an average score of 90 points per examination and a second place finish in the State of Kansas.  He worked for more than two years as a Certified Public Accountant with a large public accounting firm before deciding to attend law school.   After carefully evaluating the Top 10 law schools in the United States (see U.S. News and World Report), Mr. Woods attended Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.   While at Duke, Mr. Woods served on law review and finished near the top of his law school class, graduating with high honors.

    Following graduation from Duke University, Mr. Woods and his family returned to the Midwest.  Mr. Woods landed a coveted appointment as law clerk to a Federal District Court Judge and worked for two large Kansas City law firms.

    Mr. Woods' experience as the law clerk to the Honorable Howard F. Sachs, United States District Court Judge for the Western District of Missouri, provided valuable experiences in a wide variety of complex litigation matters and exposure to many substantive areas of the law.  Mr. Woods' clerkship experience also provided substantial time in and around a courtroom.  As a result of these experiences and others, Mr. Woods is very comfortable in the courtroom environment and well versed with courtroom procedures and ettiquette.  

    Along with his clerkship, Mr. Woods' spent several years working at two large Kansas City, Missouri law firms, Stinson, Mag & Fizzell and, later, Berkowitz, Feldmiller, Stanton, Brandt, Williams & Stueve (a firm comprised largely of former Stinson, Mag & Fizzell and former Bryan Cave lawyers), before settling in Hesston, Kansas.  

While at those firms, Mr. Woods handled a wide variety of complex legal matters for large, corporate clients.  Among those clients were Ford Motor Company, Honda Motor Company, BMW, Boatmen’s (now part of Bank of America), Stifel Nicolaus & Co., Inc. (a brokerage firm), Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri, Watson Laboratories (a large, California-based drug manufacturer and distributor) and KPMG Peat Marwick.   He also represented numerous individuals and small businesses.

For various reasons, including a desire to be nearer to family and to rear his three small children in a smaller community, Mr. Woods relocated his family and practice from Kansas City to Hesston, Kansas, his wife's hometown, in June 2000.   He purchased a building on Hesston's Main Street, and through the use of sophisticated modern technology continues to represent largest corporations.   He has also substantially expanded his representation of individuals and small businesses and diversified his practice areas.   For more detailed information about Mr. Woods' areas of practice, please call.  He makes regular visits to clients in surrounding communities and spends on average one day a week servicing Wichita, Kansas clients.

Mr. Woods is admitted to the Missouri and Kansas bar and practices before the federal and state courts in Kansas and Missouri.  More specifically, he is admitted to practice in the Kansas and Missouri State courts, the Kansas District Court (federal) and the Western District of Missouri (federal).   He is a member of the Missouri and Kansas Bar Associations, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, and the Harvey County Bar Association.