Joshua Van Laan

Van Laan Law, P.L.L.C., Chesterfield, Michigan                                                                          2023 – Present

Attorney & Legal Counselor

Owner and operator of solo practice representing clients in various civil and criminal matters, including post-conviction proceedings and appeals; assigned as court-appointed counsel for indigent defendants in multiple counties; mediate small claims disputes in district courts; drafts contracts and employment agreements; files civil lawsuits involving multiple areas of law (property disputes, landlord-tenant issues, breaches of contract); and contracts with family law attorneys to assist with child custody matters, guardianships, divorce proceedings, and personal protective orders.

Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, Mount Clemens, Michigan                                                 2011 – 2022

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney / Principal Trial Lawyer

Prosecuted thousands of criminal cases involving felony and misdemeanor state law violations; conducted dozens of jury trials against defendants charged with various offenses including murder, manslaughter, criminal sexual conduct, child abuse, robbery, drug offenses, violent crimes, theft, and others; drafted and argued hundreds of motions before, during, and after trial; argued in post-conviction proceedings and on appeal before the trial courts, the Michigan Court of Appeals, and the Michigan Supreme Court; and participated in all other aspects of criminal prosecution.

Miller, Canfield, Paddock, & Stone, PLC, Troy, Michigan                                                               2010 – 2011

Commercial Litigation & White-Collar Criminal Defense Practice Group Extern

Assigned as second-chair to one of the state’s largest civil mortgage fraud trials involving 57 plaintiffs, 21 defendants, preliminary injunctions, receiverships, and appellate filings; prepared dozens of motions and responses; analyzed and evaluated thousands of corporate records and documents; prepared trial defenses for allegations of fraud, breach of contract, civil conspiracy, conversion, and breach of fiduciary duty; and drafted all pre-trial motions, examination outlines, and opening and closing statements.

State Farm Fire & Casualty Company, Troy, Michigan                                                                   2007 – 2010

Fraud Investigator / Special Investigative Unit

Investigated fraudulent and potentially fraudulent insurance claims in the Auto Special Investigative Unit, Fire Investigative Unit, Multi-Claim Investigative Unit, Fire Field Unit, and Auto Processing Unit.

Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department, Kalamazoo, Michigan                                                  2004 – 2007

Sheriff’s Deputy / Corrections Deputy / Animal Control Special Deputy

Served as a secondary road patrol deputy and corrections officer; completed police reports and charging requests; testified in court; interviewed suspects and witnesses; and carried out all other general police duties.

United States Air Force – Michigan Air National Guard, Battle Creek, Michigan                        2000 – 2009

Security Forces / Technical Sergeant

Implemented security, supervised personnel, monitored internal security compliance and standards, and enforced strict adherence to military regulations.

Distinguished Brief Award: People v. Paul Charles Seewald, 33-2 W. Mich. U. T.M. Cooley L. Rev. 277 (2016).

The Basics of Michigan’s “Juvenile Lifer” Laws, The Practitioner – Vol. 40-4 (2016).

The Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, The Practitioner – Vol. 40-2 (2016).

Michigan’s Sentencing Guidelines After Lockridge, The General Practitioner, Vol. 39-5 (2015).

How to Make a Witness Disappear Legally: The Supreme Court’s Improper Decision in Crawford v. Washington, 13.3 T.M. Cooley J. Prac. & Clinical L. 485 (2011).