Practice areas: DUI-DWI, Criminal Defense, White Collar Crimes; view more
Licensed in Michigan since: 1999
Education: The Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2011 - 2026 Call today:
517-299-9674
The Nichols Law Firm, PLLC
3452 E Lake Lansing RoadEast Lansing, MI 48823 Visit website
Michael J. Nichols is an attorney at The Nichols Law Firm, PLLC, in East Lansing, Michigan. He centers his practice on OWI defense, criminal litigation and select civil matters involving catastrophic injury or governmental misconduct. He is widely respected for his ability to merge rigorous scientific analysis with compassionate, client-focused advocacy. His trial record includes not-guilty verdicts in cases involving OWI-by-marijuana allegations, fatal highway collisions, disputed assault accusations and even Michigan’s first known black-box vehicular homicide prosecution.
Additionally, Mr. Nichols represents clients in complex personal injury matters, achieving substantial results in ATV, motor vehicle and wrongful death cases. A proud graduate of Michigan State University, he later joined the faculty at Thomas M. Cooley Law School’s Lansing campus, where he teaches DUI Law and Practice as well as Forensic Evidence. His commitment to legal scholarship includes authoring The Michigan OWI Manual, now in its 15th revision, and collaborating with national experts on publications addressing measurement uncertainty and DUI-related mathematics.
Participation in professional organizations has been a defining part of Mr. Nichols’ career. He has long been involved with the National College for DUI Defense, serving as chair of its forensic science task force, co-chair of the autonomous vehicles task force, and contributing as a faculty member. His involvement extends to the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, the Michigan Association for Justice and the Michigan Association of OWI Attorneys, which he helped establish.
Mr. Nichols’ work has earned recognition across Michigan and nationally. Being trusted to lead major forensic committees, author authoritative publications and speak at conferences for the NCDD, AAFS, and other leading groups reflects the esteem he holds within the defense community.
Additional accomplishments include leading a legal team to a multimillion-dollar federal verdict in a police-misconduct wrongful death case. A founding member of The Nichols Law Firm, PLLC, Mr. Nichols and his wife, attorney Wendy Schiller-Nichols, launched the firm in 2006 and continue to serve the East Lansing community.
Practice areas
Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI, Criminal Defense, Criminal Defense: White Collar, Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - Products: PlaintiffFocus areas
Animal Bites, Brain Injury, Criminal Domestic Violence, Criminal Law, DUI/DWI, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Medical Malpractice, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Sex Offenses, White Collar Crime, Wrongful Death
- 50% Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI
- 10% Criminal Defense
- 10% Criminal Defense: White Collar
- 10% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 10% Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff
- 10% Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 1999, Michigan
Professional Webpage: http://nicholslawyers.com/attorneys/michael-j-nichols/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Michigan Association of Justice (MAJ), Member
- Michigan Association for Justice
- Co-chair of the Autonomous Vehicles Task Force, National College for DUI Defense
- Member, Criminal Law Section, State Bar of Michigan
- 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
- Active Member, Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (CDAM), 2000- Present
- 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 Task Force, 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
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- 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
Representative Clients
- "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
Transactions
- 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.
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Certified by the in the controversial Drug Recognition Evaluator (DRE) protocol; SFSTs, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Pro bono / Community Service
- Member, Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan (CDAM)
- Faculty Member, Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan Trial College, August 2010
- Member, Michigan Public Defense Task Force
Educational Background
- Michigan State University, B.A. in Political Science, With Honor, Member, National Honor Society, 1993
White Papers
- Criminal Law Update: "It's a Bird, it's a Plane; it's Superdrunk!", Criminal Defense, 2009, 2009
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- This is the OWI Manual and it is now part of the Gillespie Series., Author, Michigan OWI Manual, Thomson West, Legal, 2009
- National Faculty, Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- CDAM Trial College, Faculty Member, 2010 and 2011
- Presenter, National conferences for the NCDD, the DUI Defense Lawyers of America, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the Cannabis Law Section for the State Bar of Michigan, the Criminal Law Section for the State Bar of Michigan, and the Michigan Association of OWI Attorneys (MIAOWIA)
- Adjunct professor, DUI Law and Practice, The 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 Lecturer, 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, October 2010
Other Outstanding Achievements
- 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
Honors
- 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
Industry Groups
- 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.
“One of the top lawyers in the State of Michigan.”
“Very knowledgeable, always helpful to fellow attorneys, consummate professional”
Office location for Michael J. Nichols
3452 E Lake Lansing Road
East Lansing, MI 48823
Phone: 517-299-9674
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2011 - 2026
