Laef was born and raised in the area. He grew up on his family farm located on the Greene-Jersey County line. He became a partner with the firm in January 2008 after joining the firm in April 2006, He is experienced in criminal/DUI defense, real estate, agricultural law, civil litigation, family law, personal injury, and estate administration/planning. While in law school, he clerked with the Illinois State Appellate Defender's Office and Southern Illinois University Student's Legal Assistance Center. After graduating law school, Laef worked for Greene County State's Attorney Matthew Goetten as a 711 assistant prosecutor and acted as a special prosecutor while State's Attorney Goetten was on military leave. He opened the Law Offices of Laef N. Lorton in November 2005 and joined the law firm of George P. Wittman, P.C. in 2006.
