Michael J. Nichols

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.