2026 graduate looks back on his time at KU Law before beginning his career in Wichita

Upcoming KU Law graduate Josh Sherfy started law school with all his internal organs intact. He is finishing it without a large intestine.

“I can personally confirm that finishing law school doesn't take guts, but it does take just about everything else,” he said.

For Sherfy, law school has been about more than mastering legal doctrine; it’s been about developing patience, diligence and resilience in times of high stress.

A native of Shawnee, Sherfy began his undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison before returning home during the pandemic to complete his bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Kansas. That experience ultimately helped guide him to KU Law.

“I chose KU Law because the relationship between the quality and cost of the education is unparalleled,” Sherfy said. “KU Law gave me the opportunity to develop my legal judgment, know-how and analysis amongst a cohort of talented peers, without imposing a crippling cost burden.”

What truly set KU Law apart for Sherfy was its people. During an informal visit to Green Hall before enrolling, Sherfy experienced that community firsthand when Dean Stephen Mazza personally introduced himself and offered to answer questions.

“The personality and openness of the KU Law community were evident before I ever chose to attend,” he said.

At KU Law, Sherfy leaned into opportunities to apply what he learned in the classroom. As a member of the Transactional Law Competition Team, he participated in the 2026 UCLA Transactional Law Competition, which he describes as the most impactful experience of his law school career.

“Knowledge is the foundation of judgment, but judgment can only be developed through application,” Sherfy said. “The Transactional Law Team served as the perfect practice run for the real-world application of my studies.”

In the classroom, Sherfy credits Professor Stephen Ware with shaping his approach to complex legal problems.

“His teaching style demands students have a grasp of both the granular and the ‘30,000-foot view’ of every topic,” Sherfy said. 

Outside of coursework and competitions, Sherfy found lasting value in the day-to-day culture of KU Law.

“There may not be a group of people more prepared to engage in banter than law students,” he said. “Nearly every day, somebody chimes in with a novel idea, a moral quandary or a wickedly witty one-liner that stops me in my tracks. I will always appreciate how seamlessly the students at KU Law balance intellectual rigor and absurd humor.”

Sherfy said KU Law’s balance of support and independence played a key role in preparing him for the workforce.

“KU Law provided me the opportunity to engage, to seek support, resolve questions, and explore new pathways. The onus was on me to make the most of them,” he said. 

After graduation, Sherfy will move to Wichita, to join Spencer Fane LLP as a junior associate in the firm’s new Wichita office. He plans to practice public finance, focusing on bond issuances and municipal law.

“Public finance is unique in that it often serves as the bedrock of physical and concrete change in your community,” he said. “The documents on your desk eventually become bridges, utility lines, public parks, shopping centers and entertainment venues. I enjoy the blend of intricate legal strategy, economics, geography and, ultimately, development.”

As he looks ahead, Sherfy is eager to begin his legal career… and to have a standing desk in his office.

“I am a pacer and wanderer, particularly when I'm trying to think,” he said. “I'm excited to be able to circle around my office to get the thoughts flowing, without worrying about distracting anybody around me!”

Sherfy leaves KU Law ready to take on the next chapter of his career and to make a lasting impact in the communities he serves.

-By Casey Bacot