From the moment he started law school, Mike Allen knew exactly what he wanted to do—practice criminal defense. And since the day he passed the bar exam, that’s exactly what he’s done. For Mike, defending the accused isn’t just a job; it’s a calling rooted in his upbringing. He quite literally grew up in the courthouse. His mother was a prosecutor for the City of Cincinnati, and his father served as a municipal court judge. On snow days or school breaks, he’d tag along to court—experiences that shaped his perspective and cemented his path.
Before beginning his legal career, Mike worked full-time in his family’s construction and real estate development business while attending night classes to earn his degree in criminal justice. Those early years taught him the value of hard work, perseverance, and knowing how to manage deadlines, people, and problems—all qualities that serve him well in the courtroom.
Mike went on to work at the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts, gaining firsthand knowledge of the judicial process and the daily workings of departments like Pretrial Services and the Prosecutor’s Office. While in law school at NKU Chase, he clerked in federal court and worked with several seasoned criminal defense attorneys, including his father. After graduating, he joined his father’s private practice and began accepting appointments through the Hamilton County Public Defender Panel.
Throughout his career, Mike has represented hundreds of clients, both privately retained and court-appointed, across Hamilton, Warren, Butler, Clermont, and Brown counties, as well as in the Southern District of Ohio. He believes no two cases—or clients—are the same, and he approaches every defense with a customized strategy and a commitment to communication and trust.
For Mike, being a criminal defense attorney means showing up for people at one of the most difficult points in their lives—and doing everything possible to help them through it.
Personal Background
Mike is a fifth-generation graduate of Elder High School and proudly represents his west-side Cincinnati roots. He now lives in Milford with his wife, a prosecutor, bringing a unique legal perspective to both sides of the courtroom. He’s a big fan of baseball and football, and makes time for physical fitness, usually getting in workouts a few times a week. When he’s not in court, he enjoys hiking and camping and tries to visit a national park at least once a year.
Mike is also a legal analyst on 700 WLW, where he appears regularly to discuss legal issues in the news, as well as local and national headlines.