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Michael J. Nichols of East Lansing is a trial lawyer, in his 27^th year of practice. Typically, Mike is defending the constitution for the rest of you. Mike and Wendy founded the Nichols Law Firm in late 2005; built a building on East Lansing Road in East Lansing on a vacant piece of land and they celebrate 20 years in that building on September 11, 2026.

First and foremost, Mike is a sustaining member of the MAJ. He is a 16 year member of the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD). He is the chair of the NCDD forensic science task force and is a faculty emeritus. Mike is a founding member of the DUI Defense Lawyers of America, the Michigan OWI Attorneys Association and is on the Rules and Laws Committee for the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan. He is also a member of the National Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers and served on the task force for body worn cameras. Mike is also an adjunct professor (emeritus) at Cooley Law School in Lansing.

Fun fact: Mike and his wife Wendy were on opposing sides of a divorce case in 2004; Mike worked at the Reynolds Law Firm; Wendy worked at the Abood Law Firm. Instead of filing a grievance against her opponent, Wendy let him buy her a beer (or 6) and they let love grow (like in Four Christmases).

Mike authored the Michigan OWI Practice Book for West, which is now in its second decade of updates.  In 2021, Mike handled his first personal injury case and settled it for $649,000.00; after that; he handled a section 1983 case that settled for 2 million.

Before the COVID shutdown –– Mike achieved a PR (personal record) a not guilty verdict on a .14 breath case in fewer than 30 seconds (of deliberations). Still one of his favorite trials of all the trials because we got to talk in closing about how “All Day IPA” is for wussies.

Last fun fact: Mike went viral on TikTok with 13.5 million view of the “EZ RY” video.