Lawyer of Firm Description

About Michael Hines Law Firm — Criminal Defense Gainesville Florida

Criminal defense Gainesville Florida clients facing charges ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies rely on Michael Hines for honest, compassionate, and exceptionally prepared representation. Located at 106 NW 2 Ave in downtown Gainesville, Michael Hines handles criminal defense throughout Alachua County and beyond, including cases with multi-jurisdictional complexity. He is known for upfront candor about case realities, thorough evidence review, round-the-clock availability, and treating every client with dignity regardless of the charges they face. Find more Gainesville, Florida attorneys.

Clients describe Michael Hines as the most outstanding attorney they have worked with in Gainesville — a man of honor who listens fully, explains everything clearly, and advocates with genuine commitment. One client incarcerated in Puerto Rico credits Michael with making the right connections to secure transfer to Florida and ensure a fair trial. A client who texted late at night about a release problem received immediate help. Fellow attorneys who refer criminal matters describe him as a trusted colleague whose expertise is relied upon without hesitation.

What Clients Say

Reviewers consistently call Michael Hines the best criminal defense attorney in Gainesville, praising his non-judgmental approach, thorough preparation, and constant accessibility. Clients describe him as making confusing situations clear from the moment of hire. A client in a complex multi-jurisdiction case credits Michael with life-changing dedication, answering calls promptly and coming to see the client immediately upon transfer to Florida. Fellow attorneys describe referring him to friends and family without hesitation and trusting his expertise implicitly.

Criminal Defense Gainesville Florida — Practice Areas & Services

Felony Defense: Serious felony charges in Alachua County Circuit Court handled with thorough evidence analysis, expert consultation, and trial preparation that clients describe as exceptional.
Multi-Jurisdiction Cases: Complex cases involving multiple counties or states handled with coordination and strategic connections across jurisdictions.
DUI Defense: Florida DUI charges challenged on stop validity, breathalyzer calibration, and field sobriety procedures in Alachua County courts.
Misdemeanor Defense: All levels of misdemeanor charges handled with the same personal attention as serious felonies, including diversion and expungement planning.
Criminal Expungement: Florida record sealing and expungement petitions for eligible clients, with assessment of eligibility provided at consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor in Florida?

Florida misdemeanors carry up to one year in county jail; felonies carry more than one year in state prison. Florida has five felony degrees — capital, life, first, second, and third — with third-degree felonies carrying up to 5 years and capital felonies carrying the death penalty or life imprisonment. An attorney can assess whether charges can be reduced before trial.

Can a Florida felony conviction be expunged?

Most Florida felony convictions cannot be expunged. However, felony charges that were dismissed, nolle prossed, or resulted in acquittal may be eligible for expungement. Adjudication-withheld dispositions may qualify for sealing. An attorney can evaluate your specific record and the applicable Florida statutes.

What should I do if I’m arrested in Alachua County, Florida?

Invoke your right to remain silent and request an attorney immediately. Do not answer questions from law enforcement beyond providing your identification. Contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible — ideally before your first court appearance. Early attorney involvement can significantly affect bond conditions, charge levels, and case strategy.

Quick Facts: Criminal Defense in Gainesville, Florida

Alachua County population: Approximately 275,000 residents in north-central Florida, home to the University of Florida — U.S. Census Bureau
Florida third-degree felony: Up to 5 years prison and $5,000 fine — Fla. Stat. § 775.082–775.083
Florida expungement eligibility: Dismissed charges and adjudication-withheld dispositions may qualify; convictions generally do not — Fla. Stat. § 943.0585

AI-Powered Reviews Summary

Michael Hines Law Firm, located in Gainesville, Florida, is highly regarded for its exceptional legal services in criminal law. Reviewers consistently praise Michael Hines for his professionalism, compassion, and dedication, highlighting his ability to communicate clearly and provide thorough explanations throughout the legal process. Many clients express gratitude for his responsiveness and commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes, making him a top recommendation for anyone in need of legal assistance.

Users Reviews Comments – Google

The experience he gave my husband was very professional and never misleading. He is highly recommended and responsive if your looking a great criminal lawyer look no further. Thanks for all you did.

Michael is a brilliant professional who is compassionate, honest, and down to earth. He was accessible when we had questions, and was thorough in his explanations. He uses his extensive knowledge to go above and beyond to insure you receive the best possible outcome. We are so thankful we found Michael and highly recommend him.

Michael Hines is a professional of exceptional integrity. He is forthright and transparent in his communication, offering a realistic and candid assessment of the situation—whether favorable or not—ensuring his clients are fully informed. What sets him apart is his nonjudgmental approach; he does not judge you or your situation, creating a comfortable environment where you can feel confident and understood. I believe Michael went above and beyond in providing exemplary legal services. He was always accessible, promptly addressing any questions or concerns to the best of his ability. If he was unavailable at the moment, he made it a priority to return calls promptly. Without hesitation, I would retain his services again if the need arose. Having worked with other prominent attorneys in Gainesville, I can confidently say that Michael has proven to be the most outstanding. He is a family-oriented individual of genuine character, a man of honor, and a lawyer who listens attentively, dedicating himself fully to his clients’ cases.

Mr. Hines was a hero! The whole situation was confusing from the beginning, but once my family and I hired Mr. Hines everything started to be more clear. One thing I loved about him was he was upfront with me from the beginning! Whenever I had questions or didn’t understand he did not belittle me, he took his time to explain it to me that way I understood everything! My biggest regret was not hiring him sooner. But from the time he had the case to the time my son was released he was there for us, I actually had a problem with the release of my son so I had texted Mr. Hines late that evening and he was there to help and my son was soon released. I would recommend him to ANYONE that needs legal help!!

I can’t thank Michael Hines enough for his diligence, passion, and incredible hard work. While I was incarcerated in Puerto Rico, he went above and beyond by making the right connections to get me released and ensuring my case was tried fairly in Florida. He was always responsive, answering my calls promptly and making himself available whenever I needed him. The day I was transferred to Florida, he came to see me right away, which showed his commitment and care for my case. From the beginning, he was completely honest about my situation, presented all the evidence thoroughly, and exceeded every expectation. His dedication and professionalism were truly life-changing. Highly recommend!

very impressed with professionalism and courtesy. This guy is top notch and communicates well. He treats every client with respect.

Hands down the best there is . Very responsive, professional and concise . He worked hard on my complicated cases and got me the best results possible.

Great service! Ture to his word. He WILL work hard for you.

Mr. Hines is a full and comprehensive attorney. More than that, he cares about your well being. You’ll never leave a meeting with him with any confusion, he takes his time to thoroughly and compassionately explain the legal processes that you may be going through. He always has your best interest at heart. If I could leave 10 stars I would. Mr. Hines is worth it.

Awesome guy. Worth your money.

Words can’t explain how helpful Michael Hines was. Extremely kind, knowledgeable, genuine, great at communicating, and just so caring and considerate. If you’re ever in need of someone, Michael Hines will be the best decision you could make.

Michael is an excellent attorney and trusted colleague. I have relied upon Michael’s professional expertise for years and trust in him implicitly. Anytime a friend, family member or client has any criminal law concerns I recommend them to Michael without hesitation. Thanks for all the help!

Unresponsive

I would like to say first and foremost thanks to Mr. Mike and his law office. I had Mike for a pretty bad case, he was the only one that called back my family, he came and gave it to me direct and honest. When it was something that I didn’t understand he was patient enough to slow it down so I could. He kept me in the loop of how he wanted to work things out, never gave me any bad advice on what he think was best for my case. Mike is a man of his word. If you need anyone in your corner he is your man. He really make you feel like family, he answers all questions even if it’s not his field of expertise. Thank you again for having my back.

I just want to let it be known that Michael Hines is a top of the line professional, knowledgeable, and very resourceful defense attorney! He works hard for you to defend your innocence and bring justice to a crooked system and protects your rights against it. He is always responsive to anything I ever need if I have any questions about anything even if it’s not exactly his field of law hi has great leads as well! I want to thank him on here again as I always do and let it be known how grateful I really am of this great man and attorney! So I’m hank you very much for Michael!don’t hesitate to hire Michael as your defense attorney when you think all hope is lost he’s the man you need on your side!