DUI/OVI continuing education

June 26, 2021

Live…It’s The OACDL DUI Seminar

Powerpoint-300x168 There has not been a live DUI defense seminar in Ohio for over a year. The Premier Ohio DUI Defense Seminar, hosted by the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (OACDL) is typically held in March. This year, with the hope of having participants present in-person, the seminar was postponed until June. The postponement paid-off, and the 20^th annual seminar was not only live (with reduced capacity), but was also live-streamed to lawyers across the state. It wasn’t held at the usual time, but it had the usual high quality.

April 10, 2021

New Book For Those Charged With DUI / OVI: The “Ohio DUI/OVI Guide”

by Shawn Dominy

Ohio-DUI-OVI-Guide-COVER-FRONT-228x300 Many people charged with DUI (called ‘OVI’ in Ohio), especially those charged with a first offense, feel like they are in the dark. They do not understand the elements and consequences of OVI, and they do not know what to expect in the court process. They also are uncertain about whether to hire a lawyer and how to find a good defense attorney. I recently published a new book, the Ohio DUI/OVI Guide, which answers most of the questions people ask in this situation. My hope is that those who read the guide will no longer be in the dark.

March 14, 2020

Ohio DUI /OVI Seminar Starts Strong…

by Shawn Dominy

Dominy-at-OVI-seminar-2020-2-228x300 I will always remember OACDL’s 2020 DUI seminar. Near the end of the first day of the three-day event, Ohio’s governor banned gatherings of 100 or more people. Our gathering had more than 100 people. As the president of the organization, I had the responsibility of informing those 100+ people the next two seminar days were cancelled. It was not a popular decision. It’s better to make decisions on principle rather than popularity. The attendees will ultimately receive the remaining two days of continuing legal education, and I expect they will also realize the cancellation decision was correct.

February 29, 2020

Sunshine Seminar: Educational Escape

by Shawn Dominy

Puerto-Rico-beach-300x193 It was 82 degrees in February, but it was all about continuing education. Mostly. At least partly. It was the OACDL Sunshine Seminar in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was great to escape Ohio’s winter weather and enjoy the beach, the rain forest, and old San Juan. And the educational part was good, too. There were six presentations, including mine, and one in-particular really resonated with me.

September 30, 2019

Solving DUI Mysteries In Las Vegas

by Shawn Dominy

Mystery-solving-300x225 How to improve litigation skills which lead to more acquittals (not guilty verdicts) in DUI/OVI cases can be a mystery. That’s why there are organizations like the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD) and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). Those organizations co-host an annual DUI defense seminar in Las Vegas, and the theme of this year’s seminar was “Solving The Mystery of DUI Acquittals”. I attended the seminar, as I have for over 15 years, and took away valuable insights.

May 25, 2019

Learning And Lounging At The Sunshine Seminar

by Shawn Dominy

Myrtle-Beach-2019-300x206 It turns out the criminal defense lawyers were not the only group gathering in Myrtle Beach. It was bike week. Harley Davidson bike week to be precise. Thousands of bikers rolled in to cruise the strip, and a small percentage participated in drag racing, drunk driving and disorderly conduct. While some people were in the tourist town breaking the law, others were there learning about the law. I was in the latter group.

March 13, 2019

Ohio DUI / OVI Seminar Turns 18

by Shawn Dominy

All-others-will-be-cross-examined-300x246 The modern version of the OACDL annual DUI/OVI seminar began in 2002. That means this year we celebrate the 18th birthday of the seminar. I have attended every year, I have participated for many years, and I have been the co-chair for the past few years. Just like parents say about their children, I can’t believe it has been 18 years. Like a proud parent, I think this seminar has matured to be one of the best DUI seminars in the country. This year’s agenda featured too many speakers to name and too many presentations to summarize, but this article covers some of the highlights.

November 10, 2018

Baseball-Themed DUI / OVI Seminar Is A Grand Slam

by Shawn Dominy

Vegas-2018-300x218 I have attended this DUI seminar in Vegas annually for about 15 years. One might think it would grow stale. It doesn’t. While the co-sponsors of the seminar are the same each year, the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD) and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), there are always different speakers and themes. This year’s theme was ‘Grand Slam Defenses’.

May 26, 2018

Ohio Defense Lawyers Talk Marijuana And Money In Myrtle Beach

by Shawn Dominy

Myrtle-Beach-300x174

Myrtle Beach, for the second year in-a-row, was the site for a seminar and retreat for the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (OACDL). I intended to go last year, but the timing didn’t work with my schedule. When it came up again this year, I made the event a priority on my calendar. I’m so glad I did. The unique seminar format, the interesting topics and the camaraderie made for a great experience.

March 17, 2018

Seventeenth Seminar Successful

by Shawn Dominy

2018-OACDL-seminar-1-300x224

I have been attending this DUI / OVI seminar since its modern inception in 2002. For five years before that, I practiced all varieties of criminal defense, with a focus on serious felonies. I didn’t think OVI defense was as complex as cases like murder, robbery and burglary. The seminar in 2002 showed me I was wrong. Shortly after that seminar, I decided to make OVI the focus of my practice. Fast forward 16 years, and I co-chaired this year’s two-day seminar presented by the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (OACDL). I was primarily responsible for the first day, which means my job was to introduce the speakers without drooling or stuttering.