About Joshua
Joshua Blanchard earned his J.D. from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School. He moved into practice in Michigan and built a career grounded in trial work and criminal defense. That academic background led directly to courtroom work early on.
He began practicing under his own name in 2009 as Joshua Blanchard, PLC. A year later he joined Miel & Carr, PLC as a trial lawyer. Those early years produced a steady stream of bench and jury experience. He handled matters through investigation, plea negotiations and trial preparation.
Since 2017 he has practiced as Blanchard Law. The change reflected a steadying of his practice and a return to a smaller-firm model. He has continued to represent clients in state courts and in matters that reach the federal level. He approaches cases with an emphasis on direct advocacy and courtroom readiness.
Blanchard maintains several professional memberships. He is a current member of the State Bar of Michigan and belongs to the Federal District Court bars for both the Western and Eastern Districts of Michigan. He is also a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Criminal Defense Lawyers of Michigan. Colleagues have known him through bar activities and local civic involvement; he is listed as a member of the Rotary Club of Clare.
He has held leadership roles within legal organizations. He has been on the Board of Directors of the Criminal Defense Lawyers of Michigan since 2010. Since 2013 he has served on the board of the State Bar of Michigan’s Criminal Law Section. Those positions have involved organizing educational programs, contributing to policy discussions and coordinating with peers on professional standards.
Across his career Blanchard has concentrated on criminal defense and trial practice, handling matters at the state level and in federal court. He draws on courtroom experience accumulated at Miel & Carr and in private practice. He remains active in professional groups that focus on criminal law and defense practice.
He currently practices at Blanchard Law, where he represents clients in criminal cases and related proceedings in Michigan state and federal courts.
