Criminal Defense Attorneys in Lansing, MI

Drunk driving, drug, and assault charges in Lansing are prosecuted through Ingham County’s courts, and the stakes are real. A Michigan-licensed criminal defense attorney serving Lansing will review your case for free.

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How we match your Lansing criminal defense case

When you submit a Lansing criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Michigan law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Michigan who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

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DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Criminal Defense cases in Lansing

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As Michigan's capital, Lansing is patrolled by city police plus Michigan State Police and campus-area enforcement near East Lansing, and traffic stops along I-96, I-69, and US-127 feed a steady stream of drunk driving and drug possession charges. Misdemeanors are handled in Lansing's district court, while felony cases move to Ingham County Circuit Court after a preliminary hearing. Some cases involving federal agencies or interstate conduct are charged in federal court instead. Early counsel matters at arraignment and bond. DearLegal matches you with a Michigan-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Lansing, with a free review.

Misdemeanor cases begin in Lansing's district court, and felonies are bound over to Ingham County Circuit Court.
Lansing police, Michigan State Police, and campus-area patrols near East Lansing all generate charges in the metro.
Arrests just outside the city may proceed in Eaton or Clinton County courts, and some conduct is charged federally rather than under Michigan law.

Michigan criminal defense rules at a glance

Lansing cases run under Michigan law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Michigan page.

Read the full Michigan criminal defense guide →

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, terrorism; 10 years for most non-violent felonies; 6 years for assault felonies (M.C.L. § 767.24)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 6 years
6 years for most misdemeanors (M.C.L. § 767.24)
Sentencing Structure: 23 year
Indeterminate sentencing under M.C.L. § 769.8; Sentencing Guidelines advisory after People v. Lockridge (2015); Habitual Offender enhancement (M.C.L. § 769.10-12); HYTA (§ 762.11) for 17-23 year olds
Expungement / Record Sealing: 7 years
Clean Slate Acts (2020/2021 PA, M.C.L. § 780.621-624) — automatic expungement of many misdemeanors after 7 years and certain felonies after 10 years (eff. April 2023); broad petition-based expungement
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under M.C.R. 6.106; constitutional right to bail with exceptions for capital and certain violent offenses (Mich. Const. Art. I, § 15); pretrial risk assessment encouraged
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Exhibit D

How much do Lansing criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Michigan · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Criminal Defense matters in Michigan are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Criminal defense attorneys in Michigan work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under M.R.P.C. 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases use hourly billing. The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) and county public defenders represent indigent defendants — recent state-level reforms have improved indigent defense statewide.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

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Exhibit F

Lansing criminal defense questions, answered

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Misdemeanors and the first stages of felony cases are handled in the district court covering Lansing, and felonies that survive a preliminary examination move to Ingham County Circuit Court. Arrests in surrounding communities may go to Eaton or Clinton County courts. An attorney will confirm the courthouse and dates for your case.

You are told the charges, bond conditions are set, and early decisions about release and next hearing dates get made. What you say at this stage can affect the case later, so having counsel present or on call helps. A Michigan attorney can appear with you and argue for reasonable bond terms.

Outcomes depend on the stop, the testing procedures, prior record, and the evidence the prosecution can actually prove, and reductions or dismissals do happen in some cases. No lawyer can promise a result. A Michigan attorney can review the police reports and testing records and explain the realistic options.

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. Michigan State Police, Detroit PD, county sheriffs, and city police use trained interrogation. Anything you say is admissible. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and Mich. Const. Art. I, § 17 right against self-incrimination.

Yes. Michigan misdemeanors carry up to 93 days, 1 year, or 2 years depending on the offense, plus fines under M.C.L. § 769.5. HYTA (M.C.L. § 762.11) can result in no conviction being entered for eligible defendants 17-23. Delayed Sentence under M.C.L. § 771.1 is similar for non-HYTA defendants. DV and OWI convictions trigger major collateral consequences.