Michael Tabler

Michael Tabler is a Knoxville native. After graduating from Farragut High School, he received a bachelor’s degree in English Literature in 2010 from the University of Tennessee where he worked as a beat writer for the University of Tennessee’s Daily Beacon. Michael received his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2013, with a concentration in Advocacy and Dispute During law school, he worked as a clerk for both the Knox County Criminal Court and a local criminal defense firm.

In 2013, Michael opened his own law practice and represented individuals charged in criminal matters in Blount and Knox Counties. In 2017, Michael then joined the Knox County Public Defenders Community Law Office. As a public defender, Michael handled a wide array of criminal charges, from misdemeanors to first degree murder, and gained extensive trial experience. In 2020, he was promoted and given the responsibility for supervising and training a third of the trial attorneys, investigators, and secretarial staff at the Knox County Public Defenders Community Law Office. In the course of his practice, and as a former member of the Knox County Recovery Court treatment team, Michael worked with hundreds of clients as they fought for sobriety and stability in their mental health. As a result, he developed strong relationships with the recovery community in Knoxville and East Tennessee, and he is well versed in helping his clients navigate the path to finding needed substance abuse and mental health services. Compassion, understanding, and a true belief in the ability of individuals to overcome both addiction and mental health issues will always a core part of Michael’s approach to criminal defense.

Michael approaches every case with a focus on aggressive, client centered, and holistic representation. Whatever his client’s situation, Michael is eager for the opportunity to tell their story and effectively advocate for their future. Whatever the situation, Michael is ready to fight for his clients.

Michael is a graduate of Gideon’s Promise Core 101 3-year intensive training program, and is a member of the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, the Knoxville Bar Association, and the Hamilton Burnett Inns of Court.