Sholes Is New Lawyer In Town
Lorraine Lieswald/Atkinson Graphic
Attorney Michael Sholes stands outside his new office building on Main Street in downtown Atkinson.By Lorraine Lieswald
Atkinson Graphic Reporter
Jim Gotschall and Michael Sholes Attorneys at Law have an office in O’Neill and opened a second office in downtown Atkinson on Jan. 30.
Attorney Michael Sholes’ primary office will be in Atkinson.
Located at 109 S. Main, Gotschall and Sholes office is in the former building which housed the Triple F Cafe. Sholes purchased the structure in June of 2022 from Gerard Keating and had it completely renovated.
“I wouldn't have had the opportunity to purchase this building if it hadn't been for Gerard Keating,” Michael Sholes said, who also serves at the City of Atkinson Attorney.
Jason Borg of Stuart was the general work contractor. The lower level of the building features a large lobby, a conference room, file room, and bathroom.
Downstairs behind the conference room, there are two office spaces for rent according to Sholes. His office is located on the second level, but he is willing to meet his clients downstairs in the conference room, if need be.
Sholes said he is often at the courthouse in O'Neill or at the firm’s Gotschall and Sholes Attorney at Law office also in O’Neill, so there is no guarantee of set times he is in the Atkinson office. Because of this, appointments are appreciated.
Andrea Connot is the Atkinson secretary for Gotschall and Sholes Attorneys at Law and Briana Stelling is the office manager and paralegal for the O'Neill office.
Sholes said his practice is in family law, juvenile law, criminal defense, estate planning and probate, real estate transactions, business formation and counselling, and general civil litigation.
“We don't do bankruptcies,” Sholes noted.
Sholes and his wife Dr. Samantha Sholes moved to Atkinson in August of 2020. Dr. Sholes practices medicine at the West Holt Medical Clinic. They have two sons, Jack who is 3 and Carson who is 16 months.
Moving to Atkinson for the Michael Sholes family was a bit like “coming home”. Sholes was born in O’Neill and lived there until the fourth grade when his parents divorced, and he moved with his mother to Ainsworth. His parents are Dr. Kirk Sholes, and Mrs. Carolyn Johnson.
Sholes is a 2009 graduate of Ainsworth High School, and he holds a broadcast journalism degree from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He is a graduate from UNL College of Law in 2016. He was married two weeks later and practiced law in Omaha for four years while his wife was finishing medical school.
In O'Neill, Sholes joined the law firm of Strope and Gotschall.
“My mom worked for Jim Gotschall when she lived in O'Neill and he did work for our family,” Sholes explained.
Knowing that small towns survive when citizens become involved Sholes is a fireman on the Atkinson Fire and Rescue squad and is taking classes to become a certified EMT.
He is a member of the St. Joseph's Catholic Church parish council. The Sholes family are members of that parish.
Sholes also plays league golf. “I'm no good but I'm trying to get better,” he admitted.
Sholes loves to read and is attempting to become an accomplished guitar player.
Gotschall and Sholes, Attorneys at Law is open weekdays Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Their phone numbers are in Atkinson - 402-925-9790 and in O'Neill - 402-336-0119.