PRO

Licensed for 27 years

DUI and DWI Lawyer at Rockland, MA
Practice Areas: DUI & DWI, Criminal Defense, Unknown

Virtual Consultation Available

Free Consultation

About James

Biography

Attorney James Milligan

Managing Partner of Milligan & Higgins
Board Certified Massachusetts Drunk Driving Defense Attorney

Attorney James Milligan over his 28 year career stands as one of Massachusetts' most distinguished and accomplished OUI defense attorneys, bringing unparalleled expertise and a proven track record to every case. With consistently impressive trial results, Attorney Milligan tries well over 60 OUI cases annually, maintaining an exceptional 90% acquittal rate that demonstrates his mastery of drunk driving defense.

As one of only two Board Certified OUI lawyers in Massachusetts, Attorney Milligan possesses specialized credentials that set him apart in the field. His expertise is further evidenced by his role as chair of the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education statewide OUI seminar, a position he has held for 19 years, where he educates fellow attorneys on the intricacies of OUI defense.

This exceptional success rate reflects his thorough preparation, comprehensive understanding of OUI law, and skilled courtroom advocacy. Widely recognized as one of the foremost experts in the OUI field throughout Massachusetts, Attorney Milligan is respected by colleagues and peers as a thorough and meticulously prepared attorney. His extensive knowledge of drunk driving defense law (OUI, DWI, DUI) and seasoned trial experience have earned him a reputation as a go-to attorney for complex OUI cases.

Attorney Milligan handles more drunk driving cases annually than most attorneys encounter in their entire careers, providing him with invaluable real-world experience across all types of OUI situations. His extensive trial experience spans courts throughout the Commonwealth, giving him comprehensive knowledge of local procedures and judicial preferences.

As an active member of prestigious legal organizations including the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD) and DUI Defense Lawyers Association (DUIDLA), Attorney Milligan remains at the forefront of developments in OUI defense law and maintains the highest professional standards.

Whether facing a first-time OUI charge or a complex repeat offense, clients can trust Attorney Milligan's proven expertise, exceptional trial skills, and unwavering commitment to achieving the best possible outcome for every case.

Don't take another chance. You need proven and powerful drunk driving representation. Free Case Eval

Massachusetts Board Certified Drunk Driving Defense Attorney. Proven and Powerful Results.

Practice Areas

DUI and DWI 90%

Attorney James Milligan is one of just a few lawyers in Massachusetts who is board certified in drunk driving defense as recognized by the American Bar Association. Concentrating his practice entirely on Massachusetts drunk driving defense, OUI defense, DUI defense, and DWI defense, Attorney Milligan is often the best resource for other lawyers representing a client charged with drunk driving in Massachusetts.

29 years

90%

Criminal Defense 5%

Other 5%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 30 minutes

Payment Methods

Cash
Check
Credit Card

Awards

2025 2024 2023

...

+ 13

Licenses

Licensed in Massachusetts for 27 years

State: Massachusetts

Acquired: 1998

Active

No misconduct found

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Location

Milligan & Higgins

(781) 878-6550

Fax

300 Ledgewood Place, Suite 201, Rockland, MA, 02370

milliganhiggins.com/

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Attorney James Milligan

867 Boylston Street, Suite 5000, Boston, MA, 02116

milliganhiggins.com/

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Attorney James Milligan

100 Independence Drive, Suite 7 #481, Hyannis, MA, 02601

milliganhiggins.com/

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Online Presence

Other places you can find James online.

James M. Milligan Jr.'s Reviews

Overall Rating
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.

4.0 /5.0

205 Client Reviews

Avvo

5.0

(203)

Lawyers.com

3.0

(2 )

See client reviews from Lawyers.com

Showing 41 - 45 of 79 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge

Posted by anonymous | December 16, 2016 | Hired Attorney

Expert DUI Attorney! Caring, Professional, and beyond Prepared. (3rd OUI)

I was arrested and charged with a third offense OUI and leaving the scene after causing property damage. I was devastated over the five year license loss for refusal of the breath test and the possibility of five months mandatory jail time with an additional eight years loss of license. Hiring the ...right attorney was one of the biggest decisions of my life. After doing some research, Jay Milligan had the most experience and best reputation. After our first consultation, I felt like he was the right guy and his fees were fair given the severity of the case. Throughout the process of going to trial, Jay and his team fought for me every step of the way, including challenging the 5 year suspension for my refusing the breath test, which we won and I got my license back during the pendency of the case, this was a very unique bonus. The real challenge was wining at the trial. My honest opinion about Jay after sitting in the defense chair watching him at trial is he is truly very experienced, aggressive and takes his work very seriously. It was clear he had my best interests in mind and truly cared. The district attorney also took this very seriously and was pushing back with multiple police witnesses and civilian witnesses. Throughout the cross examination of these witnesses Jay was able to open and punch holes through their testimony. Getting to the Trial took a long time and I knew it could go either way for me, but I was also confident because I knew that Jay was prepared and we had done everything we could have done to win the case. I was found not guilty on both charges after a jury trial. I would recommend Jay and his team to anyone without hesitation in this kind of serious position. Their professionalism and experience in this area surpasses any OUI attorney out there and the results of my trial speak for themselves.

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Posted by Andrew | September 26, 2016 | Hired Attorney

Case won victory

I met with jay milligan at his office in norwell ma almost 1year ago for a 3rd oui charge he wasted no time being very direct on options that may or may not apply to me in my case I hired jay and we began the court process jay and his partner joe Higgins were always on top of everything going on in a...nd out of the court room. Very confident and aggressive towards anyone trying to speak against me on the charges I was appealing when we went to trial I was found innocent of a 3rd dui charge jay had done a excellent job arguing the evidence the prosecutor was trying to use against me as well as all his knowledge in these specific areas of defense. I also was given my driver liscence priveledge back which could have only happened if I won my case and having jay milligan it happened. I have not always made the right choices in life and have had to have other attorney's on different matters represent me. However hands down jay milligan and joe Higgins r the best I highly recommend them to anyone that has a criminal offense or especially drinking related charges. Thanks for everything guys again god bless you! !!

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Posted by William | July 25, 2016 | Hired Attorney

Professional, Prepared, Knowledgeable, Expert DUI Attorney.

After hiring an attorney who has helped my family with assorted issues in the past, I learned the hard way, the value of hiring an expert in DUI matters. My first lawyer took my money, but was in over his head. The result was a plea (CWOF). This meant costly restrictions on my license during a long s...uspension for refusing the breath test. I agreed to the plea after listening to the first lawyer's misrepresentation of the law, telling me that I would be reinstated at a RMV hearing w/in 60 days. When I realized that was not true, I found Jay Milligan. Jay heard my story, and accepted my case. Jay Milligan was able to vacate the plea, and give me another chance for a trial. The timely result was "not guilty"! I currently have an unrestricted license and I am able to contribute to my family, and my life again. Without Jay, I would have had a limited hardship license with a costly blow to start device, and a damaging record of DUI. James M. Milligan is professional, knowledgeable, prepared, and treats you with respect. If you are reading this, Jay Milligan and his staff are exactly what you need. In my case, the results are the best possible for an extremely complicated and difficult situation. The money I saved by hiring the family's "guy" made me feel good for a day. The value of paying for the services of an expert, I will appreciate for a lifetime. A+ service is my review for Jay and his excellent staff.

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Posted by anonymous | December 28, 2015 | Hired Attorney

James Milligan - the best

After my daughter was arrested on a second DUI charge (the first being 8 years ago) I panicked . She faced losing her license for up to 5 years since she refused the breathalyzer test and did poorly on the field sobriety test . Her job and her children would be greatly affected . Together we search...ed the internet for a good lawyer and, after reading the reviews, decided on James Milligan . We were so blessed to find him. He is so knowledgeable and told us what to expect. He was excellent in preparing us for a jury trial. He covered every detail. Our entire family is so grateful to him. Because of him we had a not guilty verdict and can now go forward with our lives

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Posted by Sheila | April 17, 2015

Exceptional attorney

When faced with an OUI charge as I was, it’s traumatic. The effects of the outcome of the case will have serious lifelong repercussions professionally and personally. I needed an attorney with experience and expertise specifically in DUI matters. Additionally I needed an attorney who knew the court w...here I was being tried. I weighed this heavily in my decision to choose James Milligan. I called him on a Saturday and he called me back that day. I had to appear in court on Monday at 8:30am and the court was already informed that Jay was my representation. When you go through the legal process you spend a good deal of time in the courtroom and observe a lot, this reaffirmed to me that I made a very wise decision in choosing Jay for my representation. I can’t say enough about how strongly I recommend Jay Milligan. He is well respected in the courts by the DA’s office, his fellow attorneys, the clerks, employees of the court and the judges. His courtroom demeanor is exceptionally polished. I had a difficult case that included a police report with some alleged incriminating statements I had made at the time of my arrest. Jay from the very start had a strategy that included filing a motion to suppress evidence to get the Officers who wrote the report on the stand under oath. Jay worked through most of the items he wanted to suppress with the DA but there was one outstanding item they needed to argue. During the motion hearing he was able to site case law to the Judge, she was going to give him time to respond back to her with the case law, which was unnecessary because Jay knew the law off the top of his head. This ultimately resulted in a favorable outcome on that portion of my case. He was also able to walk through the police report and alleged statements I made with the officers under oath during the motion hearing. This was critically important to the outcome of my case. We took my case to Jury trial, throughout the process Jay advised me of the options, the pros and cons. He went through my testimony several times to ensure I was prepared. He did the same with my witness. I knew what to expect at trial from reviewing the potential jurors to how the trial would unfold. At trial there was very little evidence for the prosecution since most of the police report had successfully been suppressed. He was able to show one of the officers who testified had already testified differently previously under oath (from the motion hearing) and had a transcribed copy of the testimony which he had the officer read out loud to the jury. After Jay’s questioning the other officer agreed that my behavior could have been the result of the airbag deployment (my arrest came as a result of a car accident). We were prepared with a timeline of the day, extensive documentation to support the timeline and how the day unfolded. Jay was prepared, like able and factual. The end result was a Not Guilty verdict by the jury. I can’t thank Jay enough for his impeccable representation in a very difficult case.

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James M. Milligan Jr.'s Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse James

Michael Judge

DUI and DWI lawyer | Jul 06

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Milligan has an exceptional reputation in the Area of DUI Defense in Massachusetts. I would highly recommend his services."

George Papachristos

DUI and DWI lawyer | Feb 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"One of the best attorneys in the field. I had the pleasure of getting to know Attorney Milligan's skills when dealing with him as a prosecutor. He was always prepared, and presented all his clients' cases with a polished and distinguished presence. Highly recommended. GP"

Michael Monopoli

Criminal defense lawyer | May 20

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. He is a very competent and skilled lawyer. He gets exceptional results"

Gregory Noble

DUI and DWI lawyer | Apr 04

Relationship: Co-worker

"I endorse Attorney James “Jay” Milligan Jr. I first met Jay when I was a prosecutor in the Plymouth County DA's office. As opposing counsel, Attorney Milligan is a formidable opponent but always a professional. Jay was always the first attorney at the courthouse and was always prepared for trial. I now have the privilege of working with Attorney Milligan as a DUI Defense Attorney. Jay’s knowledge of the law and trial practice are unmatched in the field of Massachusetts DUI Defense and RMV Representation. Accordingly he is one of only a few attorneys in Massachusetts to be Board Certified in the field of Drunk Driving Defense. Attorney Milligan provides each client with the proven powerful drunk driving representation that only he can. He is a valued mentor to me and a passionate advocated for his clients. I highly endorse Attorney Jay Milligan."

Joseph Higgins

DUI and DWI lawyer | Nov 02

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have had the pleasure of working closely with Attorney Milligan, both during my time as a prosecutor and now as a fellow member of the OUI/DUI/DWI defense bar. For me to say that Jay "raises the bar" would be an understatement. His knowledge of the law, his commitment to the interests of his clients, and his work ethic go unmatched. He has a proven track record of success that is undoubtedly the product of his character, hard work, and devotion to the practice of law. I highly endorse Attorney Milligan and would recommend him to anyone facing a drunk driving charge."

Nicolas Gordon

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 07

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"One of the best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Massachusetts. Gets amazing results for his clients. Very experienced, highly skilled and he genuinely cares about people. I have referred several clients to him in the past and he has achieved extraordinary results"

Donald Ramsell

DUI and DWI lawyer | Dec 29

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I highly recommend Jay Milligan if you or a loved one has been charged with drunk driving. Jay is a diligent and conscientious lawyer, well-respected in the legal community."

James Powderly

Criminal defense lawyer | Sep 21

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Attorney Milligan is a talented and competitive defense lawyer who truly goes to bat for his clients. I recently witnessed him first hand in a felony trial where it was clear the prosecutor was outmatched (Not Guilty verdict followed). I would recommend his services to anyone facing criminal prosecution in Massachusetts."

John Webb

DUI and DWI lawyer | Sep 15

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I have had the honor of working with James "Jay" Milligan, Sr., on several matters that involve mutual clients due to the relative proximity of Maine to Massachusetts. Jay is the "go to guy" when it comes to issues involving the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. He is not only a strong and highly competent fighter for his clients in the courtroom, but also has a superior working knowledge of motor vehicles suspensions, how to fight them, how to beat them, and if need be, how to minimize them. Not only is he one of the top DUI\DWI Attorneys in the Commonwealth, he is also a compassionate and caring individual who works closely with clients and keeps their best interests at heart. If you have been charged with DUI/DWI or any motor vehicle crime in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Jay Milligan, Sr. can be counted on to fight for the citizen accused."

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Joseph Higgins

DUI and DWI lawyer

Experience

Rating: 10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2025

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2024

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2023

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2013

Preeminent 5.0 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell

2013

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2012

Preeminent 5.0 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell

2011

Preeminent 5.0 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell

2010

Preeminent Client Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell

2009

Preeminent 5.0 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell

2008

Preeminent Client Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell

2007

Preeminent 5.0 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell

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Work Experience

2010 - Present

Attorney, Attorney James Milligan Law Office

2000 - 2010

DUI OUI Attorney, Jones, Milligan & Geraghty

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Associations

2010 - Present

Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.

Chair

2000 - Present

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member

2000 - Present

National College of DUI Defense

Member

1998 - Present

Massachusetts Bar Association

Member

1998 - Present

Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member

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Sample of Legal Cases

Commonwealth v. R.L. (Lynn District Court)

Not Guilty

Commonwealth v. P.H (Plymouth District Court)

Not Guilty

Commonwealth v. E.D – Quincy District Court

Not Guilty

Commonwealth v. R.L. (Lynn District Court)

Not Guilty

Commonwealth v. S.Y. – Wrentham Distric Court

Not Guilty

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Education

1998

Massachusetts School of Law at Andover

JD - Juris Doctor

1995

Allegheny College

BA - Bachelor of Arts

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Speaking Engagements

2010

Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.

Handling OUI Cases

2010

Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.

Massachusetts Auto Stops

2010

Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.

OUI Summit - Drunk Driving Defense

2009

Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.

Law and Science of Traffic Defense

2009

Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.

Massachusetts Auto Stops

2008

Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.

Litigating OUI Cases

2007

Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.

Criminal Law Practice Forum

2006

Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.

Criminal Law Conference

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Publications

2010

Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. ("MCLE") Handling Massachusetts OUI Cases

2010

Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. ("MCLE") Massachusetts Auot Stops

2010

Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) OUI Drunk Driving Defense

2008

Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Litigating OUI Cases

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Languages

English

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Activity

Legal Answers

Legal Guides

Legal Answers

Q&A

Can I be charged with a dui when I was parked in my car with the keys in the ignition I didn't get arrested

06 Jan 2019

Q&A

Was given field sobriety test on a sloped rd with poor street lighting is that enough to surpress field sobriety test

25 Dec 2018

Q&A

Can a Cahill disposition be requested after an unsuccessful trial (guilty finding)

23 Feb 2015

See More Legal Answers

Legal Guides

Video Legal Guide

What are the penalities for 1st Offense DUI OUI in Massachusetts

01 Mar 2012

Video Legal Guide

What is a CWOF in Massachusetts

01 Mar 2012

Legal Guide

Drinking and Driving Laws in Massachusetts

03 Feb 2011

See More Legal Guides

James M. Milligan Jr.

About James

Biography

Don't take another chance. You need proven and powerful drunk driving representation. Free Case Eval

Massachusetts Board Certified Drunk Driving Defense Attorney. Proven and Powerful Results.

Practice Areas

Fees and Rates

Cost

Payment Methods

Awards

Licenses

Licensed in Massachusetts for 27 years

Location

Milligan & Higgins

Attorney James Milligan

Attorney James Milligan

Online Presence

James M. Milligan Jr.'s Reviews

Overall Rating This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.

James M. Milligan Jr.'s Lawyer Endorsements

Experience

Honors

Work Experience

Associations

Sample of Legal Cases

Education

Speaking Engagements

Publications

Languages

Activity

Legal Answers

Legal Guides

Overall Rating
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.