Benjamin T Van Severen

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.

Marquette University Law School

J.D. | Law

2010 - 2013

Marquette University

B.A. | Criminology & Political Science

2006 - 2010

Owner

Van Severen Law Office, S.C.

2022 - Current

Partner

Meyer Van Severen, S.C.

2015 - 2021

Attorney

Birdsall Law Offices

2013 - 2015

Law Clerk, Birdsall Law Offices, S.C. (Feb 2012 - Aug 2012)

Mandatory Minimum Crimes

The legal blog of Meyer Van Severen, S.C.

September 29, 2019

Bomb Scare Defense, Interview with Fox-6 Milwaukee

January 1, 2016

Marquis Who's Who

Marquis Who's Who in American Law

2021

Rising Stars

Super Lawyers

2019

Selected To Rising Stars: 2016 - 2019

10 Best for Client Satisfaction

American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys

2019

Selected To Rising Stars: 2016 - 2019

Top 40 Lawyers Under 40

American Society of Legal Advocates

2016

Top 40 under 40

National Trial Lawyers Association

2015

Top 40 under 40 (2014, 2015)

Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys

Member

2013 - Current

National Association Of Criminal Defense Attorneys

Member

2013 - Current

Milwaukee Bar Association

Member

2013 - Current

Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association

Member

2013 - Current

Wisconsin

Since 2013

• Free Consultation
• Credit Cards Accepted

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?

November 20, 2019

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.