Michael J. Sands

Michael J. Sands

Attorney, Founding Partner & Co-Owner

Biography

Michael is originally from Delhi, Iowa, a small town located on the Eastern side of the state 40 miles west of the Illinois border. Michael is the last of four children and only son born to John and Lois Sands.

Along with his sisters, Angela, Amy, and Jennifer, he attended Maquoketa Valley High School. While in school, he played football, basketball, track, and golf. During the summer when he wasn’t working construction, he enjoyed boating with his friends on Lake Delhi. After high school, Michael went to The University of Iowa where he graduated with his Bachelor of Arts majoring in Political Science.

Upon completion of undergraduate school, Michael attended Creighton University to obtain his Juris Doctor and Masters in Business Administration. While attending Creighton, Michael worked as a clerk under Matthew Wilber and Jon Jacobmeier at the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office in Council Bluffs, Iowa and later under Donald Kleine and Brenda Beadle at the Douglas County Attorney’s Office in Omaha, Nebraska. His first job out of graduate school was working as an Assistant Deputy Juvenile County Attorney with the Douglas County Attorney’s Office. After working as a prosecutor, Michael left to serve as a Senior Claims Counsel for a national title underwriter.

In 2011 Michael started his own private practice, which would form the basis for Sands Wegner, PLC and HuskerLaw.com.

Outside of the office, Michael enjoys spending his free time with his wife, Tara, his sons, William and Henry, his daughter, Caroline, and his three pets, Jules, June, and Georgia. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys watching sports with his friends and family and playing sports with his children. Michael is very active in the community and coaches multiple youth sports teams for his children and enjoys volunteering for events and fundraisers at his children’s school. He also enjoys golfing, working out, and traveling.

Areas of Practice

  • Divorce
  • Family Law
  • Wills, Trusts & Estates

Professional Associations

  • Iowa State Bar Association
  • Nebraska State Bar Association
  • Omaha Bar Association
  • United States Federal Court of Iowa – Northern and Southern Districts
  • United States Federal Court for the District of Nebraska

Education

Maquoketa Valley High School
  • Attended Maquoketa Valley High School and graduated in 2000. While in high school, he played football, basketball, track, and golf.
University of Iowa
  • Graduated from The University of Iowa in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and minor in History.
Creighton University
  • Attended Creighton University and received his Juris Doctor in 2008  and Masters in Business Administration in 2009.

Career

Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office
  • Worked as a clerk at Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office, Council Bluffs, Iowa, under Matthew Wilber and Jon Jacobmeier.
Douglas County Attorney’s Office
  • Worked as a clerk at Douglas County Attorney’s Office, Omaha, Nebraska, under Donald Kleine and Brenda Beadle.
  • Assistant Deputy Juvenile County Attorney at Douglas County Attorney’s Office.
National Title Underwriter
  • Served as a Senior Claims Counsel for a national title underwriter.
Founding Partner & Co-Owner
  • In 2011 Michael started his own private practice, which would form the basis for Sands Wegner, PLC and HuskerLaw.com

Awards & Achievements

  • Boss of the year award 2014 – Omaha Paralegals Association
  • National Academy of Family Law Attorneys Top 10 under 40 award for excellence in family law – 2015
  • American Institute of Family Law Attorneys 2016 10 Best Client Satisfaction Award
  • 2018 recipient of the Best Local Radio Campaign from the American Advertising Federation, Omaha Chapter
  • 2022 The Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O! Best Family Law Firm
  • 2023 The Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O! Best Family Law Firm