About Michael Lai
Michael Lai Howard earned a B.A. from Texas Tech University in 2001, where he studied humanities, history and philosophy. He went on to receive his J.D. from SMU Dedman School of Law in 2004. Those years of study shaped his approach to legal reasoning and courtroom practice.
After law school, Howard began practicing in Texas. He is licensed to appear in Texas courts and has concentrated his work on criminal defense matters. Over time he joined several professional groups that reflect that focus: the Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association since 2009, the Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association since 2018, and the National Criminal Defense Lawyers Association since 2020. Those memberships have kept him plugged into local and national developments in criminal practice.
Howard’s day-to-day work centers on state criminal cases. He handles pretrial work, motions and hearings, and represents clients at trial. Colleagues describe him as methodical in case preparation and direct in court. He works through evidence, witnesses and procedural issues to test the state’s case and to develop defense strategies tailored to each client’s circumstances.
He operates out of The Law Office of Mike Howard, PLLC. From that office he represents individuals facing a range of criminal charges in Texas courts. He has spent years practicing in urban courtrooms as well as in county settings, which has given him ongoing exposure to varied caseloads and local procedures. He continues to participate in the professional associations that reflect his practice interests and to handle matters that arise across the state.
Howard’s educational background and long-standing memberships in criminal defense organizations inform how he approaches cases. He maintains a practice in Texas criminal defense at The Law Office of Mike Howard, PLLC, where he represents clients in state court proceedings.
