Practice Areas: DUI-DWI, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury; view more
Licensed in Michigan since: 1999
Education: The Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2011 - 2024 Call today:
517-706-6100
The Nichols Law Firm, PLLC
3452 E Lake Lansing RoadEast Lansing, MI 48823 Visit website
Details
Michael J. Nichols, a founding member of The Nichols Law Firm, PLLC, brings almost 25 years of legal experience and excellence to his practice, primarily focusing on intricate criminal law and personal injury law cases. He is dedicated to representing clients across Michigan, concentrating on defending individuals facing allegations of alcohol and drug offenses, particularly drunk driving and "drugged driving."
Mr. Nichols has established himself as a seasoned litigator, achieving notable success in various high-profile and complex cases. His accomplishments include representing coaches and student-athletes at Michigan State University, as well as individuals such as police officers, students accused of assault, the mother of a missing 7-year-old boy and the girlfriend of Lansing's largest convicted drug dealer. Mr. Nichols' client was pardoned after she was convicted on an aiding and abetting theory. Mr. Nichols successfully defended an East Lansing police officer, who was investigated by the Michigan Attorney General for an officer-involved shooting. Mr. Nichols himself is a Special Assistant Attorney General, representing the Center for Forensic Psychiatry.
In addition to his litigation prowess, Mr. Nichols is well-versed in handling intricate forensic issues and other specialized litigation matters. Recent achievements include 2 substantial settlements in personal injury cases, one of which was an ATV crash in Roscommon County and the other was a snowmobile crash in the Upper Peninsula's Alger County, in which Mr. Nichols' client was a police officer (off-duty).
Mr. Nichols earned his J.D. degree from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1999. During law school, he received the Society for Irish American Lawyers Scholarship in 1998 and earned a spot on the dean's list for two semesters while balancing the demands of a full-time job and the school's intensive two-night-a-week program.
Before his legal studies, Mr. Nichols earned a B.A. from Michigan State University in 1993, laying the foundation for his successful legal career. Licensed in Michigan since 1999, he is admitted to practice law in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan.
Mr. Nichols is a leader with prestigious organizations such as the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan and various sections within the State Bar of Michigan. He previously served on the governing council of the criminal law section at the State Bar of Michigan and is a sustaining member of the National College for DUI Defense, where he contributes as a distinguished faculty member on its forensic science committee.
As a founding member of the National DUI Defense Lawyers of America and the Michigan Association of OWI Attorneys, Mr. Nichols demonstrates leadership in his field. He recently concluded his term as the Ingham County Bar Association Criminal Law Section chair and remains active in the Ingham County Bench-bar committee.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Mr. Nichols is deeply committed to community service. A sought-after lecturer, he shares his knowledge nationally and within the State of Michigan and has authored the "Michigan OWI Handbook" for West Publishing.
Practice areas
Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - Products: PlaintiffFocus areas
Arrest & Arraignment, Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, DUI/DWI, Drug & Alcohol Violations, False Accusations, Felony, Medical Devices, Motor Vehicle Defects, Motor Vehicle Offenses, Murder, Personal Injury - Defense, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Sex Offenses, Theft, Traffic Violations
- 70% Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI
- 10% Criminal Defense
- 10% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 10% Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 1999, Michigan
Professional Webpage: http://www.nicholslawyers.com/Attorney-Profiles/mike-nichols
- Member, Criminal Law Section, State Bar of Michigan
- National Faculty, Ohio Association Criminal Defense Lawyers Excellence
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan
- Member, Publications Committee, Ingham County Bar Association
- Member, Bench-Bar Committee, Ingham County Bar Association, 2007
- Founder, Michigan Association of OWI Attorneys
- Member, Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
- Sustaining Member, the National College for DUI Defense; Faculty Member, the National College for DUI Defense; Chair and Member, Forensic Science Committee, the National College for DUI Defense, 2021
- Member, Bench-Bar Committee, Ingham County Bar Association, 2005
- Associate Member, Jurisprudence Section, American Academy of Forensic Sciences
- Immediate Past Chair and Board Member, Criminal Law Section, Ingham County Bar Association
- Immediate Past Chair, Criminal Law Section, Ingham County Bar Association
- U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan
- Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Member, Bench-Bar Committee, Ingham County Bar Association, 2003
- Member, Bench-Bar Committee, Ingham County Bar Association, 2009
- Not Guilty in 3 out of 4 DUI trials including chemical tests that were admitted of .17/.17; .11/.10 and .18., 2012
- Not Guilty in People v Wood; the first known "black box" case in which a 17-year old high school student was charged with negligent homicide., 2003
- Not guilty in People v Pirzad, a DUI with a .27 breath alcohol content., 2007
- Not guilty in People v Miller, a DUI case with a .11 breath alcohol content., 2001
- This was a case that is explained with only 2 words: hard work., 2018
- Not guilty in People v Bulson: a CSC involving a Chelsea police officer., 2005
- Dismissal in the DUI case in which a former Ingham County judge was charged in Meridian Township., 2009
- Successfully defended a client from a claim for costs of prosecution in his case. The client was ordered to pay fines and costs but no probation after he was convicted of operating while intoxicated (OWI). The prosecuting official requested costs of over $1,500.00 for the trial, March, 2010
- Not guilty in People v Kinne: a CSC charge against a Battle Creek Police Officer., 2004
- Not guilty of assembling to riot in one of the many so-called "cedarfest" riot cases at Michigan State University, 2008
- "People v Holland", in which Mike co-counseled the defense of the mother of a 7 - year old boy, whose remains were found in Southern Ingham County in January, 2006
- I spoke to the Michigan Judicial Institute on Drugged Driving on January 25, 2018. I also spoke to the National College for DUI Defense on Drugged Driving in Atlanta, Georgia on January 18, 2018.
- Certified by the in the controversial Drug Recognition Evaluator (DRE) protocol; SFSTs, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA)
- Member, Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (CDAM)
- Faculty Member, Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan Trial College, August 2010
- Member, Michigan Public Defense Task Force
- The top attorney in the county as voted by my peers., Leo A. Farhat Award for the Most Outstanding Attorney in Ingham County, Ingham County Bar Association - peer-nominated, 2018
- Michigan State University, B.A. in Political Science, With Honor, Member, National Honor Society, 1993
- http://nicholslawyers.com/InTheNews/tabid/1278/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1906/ITS-A-BIRD-ITS-A-PLANE-ITS-SUPERDRUNK.aspx, Criminal Law Update: "It's a Bird, it's a Plane; it's Superdrunk!", Criminal Defense, 2009
- This is the OWI Manual and it is now part of the Gillespie Series., Author, Michigan OWI Manual, Thomson West, Legal, 2009
- Adjunct professor, DUI Law and Practice, Thomas M. Cooley Law School
- Guest Lecturer, Michigan State University
- Lecturer, Michigan Trial Lawyer's Association
- Tutor, Lansing School District
- Author, OWI Handbook for Lawyers, DUI Law and Practice, published by Thomson Reuters West, 2012
- Author, "Men's Rea" Column, Legal Newspapers of Michigan
- Frequent Lectures, OWI and criminal defense issues, Ingham County Bar Association
- Lecture on Revisions to Michigan's Drunk Driving Statutes, Ingham County Bar Association
- Co-author, To the Chapter "DUI Mathematics" for the "Inside the Minds" series for Thomson West, 2012
- National faculty, DUI Defense Conference the American Academy of Forensic Science, Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Excellence
- Lecturer, New "Superdrunk" legislation and additional changes to Michigan law regarding drinking and drugged drivers, Ingham County Bar Association's, October 2010
- Lansing Marathon in under 4:30 while raising over $2,500.00 for the Ingham County Veterans Treatment Court, 2012
- Completed Capital City Half Marathon in under 1:45, 2008
- Completed Chicago Marathon, 2007
- Ingham County Bar Association Criminal Law Section (chair emeritus))
- National College for DUI Defense; National Association Of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Criminal
- State Bar Of Michigan; Criminal Defense Association Of Michigan
These comments were made by fellow attorneys during the annual nomination process.
“Very knowledgeable, always helpful to fellow attorneys, consummate professional”
“One of the top lawyers in the State of Michigan.”
Office location for Michael J. Nichols
3452 E Lake Lansing Road
East Lansing, MI 48823
Phone: 517-706-6100
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2011 - 2024
