Michael J. Nichols

Michael J. Nichols is committed to results as a litigation and DUI/criminal defense attorney at The Nichols Law Firm, PLLC. He is n his 20th year of practice representing people throughout Michigan. His practice focuses on defending clients accused of alcohol and drug offenses, especially drunk driving and so-called "drugged driving." His track record as a litigator includes a variety of high-profile and complicated cases. Many of these cases produced outstanding results for clients.

Just some of the high-profile cases Mr. Nichols has successfully defended include representing coaches and student-athletes at Michigan State University. He also represented police officers and students accused of assault, the mother of a missing 7-year-old boy and the girlfriend of the largest drug dealer ever convicted in Lansing. She was convicted of aiding and abetting him in federal court - but the conviction was later pardoned and she was released 10 years later in 2017.

Mr. Nichols represented a young man accused in the 1st ever "black box" case in the State of Michigan, that led to charges of Negligent Homicide against his client - a high school senior at the time. The verdict was not guilty. He also represented other high-profile clients in both criminal and civil cases including a lobbyist, police officers, a fireworks dealer, surgeons, news anchors and a Muslim father who wanted to move his children out of state.

As a respected member of the legal community, Mr. Nichols is a sought-after lecturer around the country and the State of Michigan. He also authored the "Michigan OWI Handbook" for West Publishing.

Mr. Nichols belongs to numerous professional organizations including the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan and several sections of the State Bar of Michigan. He is a former member of the criminal law section governing council.  He is a sustaining member of the National College for DUI Defense as well as a member of the faculty for the NCDD and a member of the NCDD's forensic science committee. Nichols is also a founding member of the national group the DUI Defense Lawyers of America an the statewide group the Michigan Association of OWI Attorneys.  He is the immediate past chair of the Ingham County Bar Association Criminal Law Section, in addition to his membership on the Ingham County Bench-Bar committee. He serves the community by volunteering as a tutor for a local school district.

Mr. Nichols is admitted to practice at the Eastern District of Michigan of the U.S. District Court, the Western District of Michigan of the U.S. District Court and the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.