About Benjamin T Van
Benjamin T Van Severen built his legal foundation at Marquette University, earning a B.A. in criminology and political science in 2006 and a J.D. from Marquette University Law School in 2010. He stayed close to Milwaukee for his early professional years, moving into criminal defense practice after law school. His education shaped an interest in how law and criminal justice interact at the street level and in the courtroom.
Van Severen began his post-law school career at Birdsall Law Offices in 2013. He spent that time handling day-to-day client work, drafting motions and appearing in hearings. The job offered steady courtroom exposure and the chance to manage both investigative details and client expectations.
In 2015 he joined Meyer Van Severen, S.C. as a partner. That role expanded his responsibilities. He balanced case strategy with office management and supervised associates. The partnership period also deepened his courtroom experience and broadened the types of cases he handled.
In 2022 he opened Van Severen Law Office, S.C., taking ownership and placing himself squarely in charge of case selection and firm direction. The move returned him to running a compact practice where he controls file handling and client communication. He has structured the office to handle criminal matters through trial and related post-conviction work.
Across his career he has maintained professional ties to local and national organizations. Since 2013 he has been a member of the Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association and the Milwaukee Bar Association. He is also a member of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Those memberships keep him plugged into training, ethics discussions and the local defense community.
Van Severen is licensed to practice in Wisconsin and continues to work in the state’s courts. He brings courtroom familiarity and experience managing both individual cases and an office. He handles client intake, motions practice, pretrial negotiation and trial representation. He now heads Van Severen Law Office, S.C., where he represents clients in criminal defense matters and related proceedings in Wisconsin.
