He is a graduate with high honors in 1999 from Queens University of Charlotte with degrees in history and political science and attended law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he graduated with honors in 2008. Michael was a newspaper reporter for five years before attending law school and was recognized for his work by the North Carolina Press Association. He has had several pieces of legal scholarship published and has served as an adjunct professor of political science at Queens University Of Charlotte. Michael is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, North Carolina Bar Association, Mecklenburg County Bar, and the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. He and his wife live in Charlotte.