Benjamin Van Severen is a criminal defense attorney who practices in Milwaukee and throughout the state of Wisconsin. He has experience handling all types of cases, from misdemeanors and OWI/DUI to serious felonies, including homicide, sexual assault, crimes involving firearms, and drug crimes.
Focusing entirely on criminal defense, Attorney Van Severen has achieved an acquittal rate three times the state average. Attorney Van Severen received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University in 2010, with majors in Political Science and Criminology, and a minor in Music. He then received his Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School in 2013. While at Marquette, Attorney Van Severen amassed over 380 hours of pro bono work with the Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic and the Wisconsin State Public Defender Trial Office in Green Bay.
Immediately upon his graduation from law school, Attorney Van Severen was hired at a local Milwaukee criminal defense firm. From his very first day, he displayed a passion for criminal defense inside the courtroom. His reputation of taking cases to trial has resulted in reduced charges and lower sentences in courts throughout Wisconsin.
In December 2015, Attorney Van Severen helped form Meyer Van Severen, S.C. From 2015 to 2021, the firm grew from two attorneys to employing five full-time lawyers. In January 2022, Attorney Van Severen oversaw his firm's transition to Van Severen Law Office, S.C.
In order to stay up to date on the constantly evolving legal landscape, Attorney Van Severen belongs to the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Milwaukee Bar Association, the Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, the Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association, and the State Bar of Wisconsin.
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- DUI & DWI
- Free Consultation
- Credit Cards Accepted
- Wisconsin
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- English: Spoken, Written
- Owner
- Van Severen Law Office, S.C.
- - Current
- Partner
- Meyer Van Severen, S.C.
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- Attorney
- Birdsall Law Offices
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- Law Clerk, Birdsall Law Offices, S.C. (Feb 2012 - Aug 2012)
- Marquette University Law School
- J.D. | Law
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- Marquette University
- B.A. | Criminology & Political Science
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- Marquis Who's Who
- Marquis Who's Who in American Law
- Rising Stars
- Super Lawyers
- Selected To Rising Stars: 2016 - 2019
- 10 Best for Client Satisfaction
- American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
- Selected To Rising Stars: 2016 - 2019
- Top 40 Lawyers Under 40
- American Society of Legal Advocates
- Top 40 under 40
- National Trial Lawyers Association
- Top 40 under 40 (2014, 2015)
- Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
- Member
- - Current
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- National Association Of Criminal Defense Attorneys
- Member
- - Current
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- Milwaukee Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
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- Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association
- Member
- - Current
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- Mandatory Minimum Crimes
- The legal blog of Meyer Van Severen, S.C.
- Bomb Scare Defense, Interview with Fox-6 Milwaukee
Defending Child Neglect And Abuse Cases In Wisconsin
Defending Firearm Charges in Wisconsin
Defending Sex Crimes In Wisconsin
Understanding Domestic Violence Charges
Understanding Drug Crime Charges
Understanding Homicide Charges
Van Severen Law Office - Wisconsin Criminal Defense
What An Attorney Can Do For Citations
What Happens In a Trial For Criminal Property Damage, Burglary Or Robbery
What To Expect In A Parole Or Probation Case
What To Expect When Stopped For Drunk Driving
Wisconsin Misdemeanor Battery Explained
- Q. At 17 I got a class F felony & was charged as an adult in Wisconsin. Now at 32 can I buy a semi automatic pellet rifle?
- A: As a felon, you are prohibited from possessing a firearm. "Firearm" means a weapon that acts by force of gunpowder to fire a projectile, regardless of whether it is inoperable due to disassembly. See, State v. Rardon, 185 Wis. 2d 701 (Ct. App. 1994). Therefore, as long as the pellet gun does not act by the force of gunpowder, you should be fine. There may be other statutes that prohibit your possession of a pellet handgun. And the person selling the pellet gun is not required to sell it to you.
