About Michael D.
Michael D. Hills built his legal foundation at Michigan State University, where he studied criminal defense. The time on campus shaped an interest in courtroom work and criminal law. It also set the stage for a long career in southwest Michigan.
He began his professional career in the courts. In 1998 he served as a judicial law clerk for the Allegan County Circuit Court. The clerkship exposed him to trial procedure, evidentiary rulings, and the daily rhythm of a busy circuit court. A year later he opened his own practice, founding Hills At Law in 1999 and taking on the dual role of owner and lawyer.
Hills has maintained a steady presence in both state and federal forums. He holds membership in the Michigan and Federal Circuit jurisdictions, and he has practiced federal defense work in Southwest Michigan’s Federal Circuit. His bar membership in the Michigan State Bar dates to 1999 and remains active. That continuity has allowed him to develop a local practice rooted in courtroom experience and procedural familiarity.
Professional associations have been a recurring thread in his career. He has been active in the Kalamazoo Trial Lawyers Association and served as its president from 2002 to 2004. He sits on the board of the Kalamazoo Bar Association and belongs to national and state criminal defense groups, including the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Criminal Defense Lawyers of Michigan. He is also a member of the Policy Board for the Kalamazoo Drug Court, a role that blends legal practice with policy discussions about alternatives to traditional sentencing.
His work centers on criminal defense at multiple levels of the system. He handles cases in Michigan state courts and in federal court when charges cross that threshold. Clients encounter him in trials, hearings and plea negotiations. He also engages in the local legal community through bar service and drug court policy meetings, positions that bring courtroom perspective to broader procedural and programmatic issues.
Colleagues and court participants know him for steady courtroom presence and an emphasis on litigation fundamentals—preparation, clear argument, and attention to procedural detail. He continues to operate Hills At Law, representing individuals in criminal matters across state and federal jurisdictions. Currently his practice focuses on criminal defense work in Michigan and the Federal Circuit.
