Karl C. Seman

Karl C. Seman, Esquire, is a founding member of the DWI and Criminal Defense firm of KCS Law, located in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Mr. Seman is best described as a seasoned, no-nonsense, practical litigator with over 35 years of experience concentrating on criminal and vehicular defenses.

Attorney Seman has served as the Felony Trial Assistant District Attorney with the Office of the Nassau County District Attorney. He is also vastly experienced as defense counsel in both criminal and DWI litigation.

He maintains a very active and varied criminal defense caseload, which ranges from traffic offenses, first-time DWI offenses, vehicular manslaughter, robbery, and murder. Attorney Seman is particularly well-versed in the scientific principles relating to chemical testing of breath and blood analysis. The practice also represents many corporate and individual federal white-collar and larcenous offenses.

To best serve his clients, Attorney Seman is one of the few attorneys that completed the 24-hour police instructional course on the detection of impaired drivers, focused on detection and sobriety tests.

Attorney Seman has written various articles, lectured, and taught about the intricacies of defending DWI charges. He is the mentor to several less experienced attorneys and prides himself on being available to both clients and new and inexperienced lawyers.

As noted in a personal message to clients, his experience also includes Management of Lord and Taylor’s New York City Retail store, where he supervised, managed, and conducted numerous investigations of shoplifting charges, employee dishonesty and theft, and embezzlement cases. As such, he is most experienced in the defense of a variety of theft charges ranging from the first-time shoplifting charges to multi-million dollar, white-collar criminal enterprise allegations.

Attorney Seman is the former Chairman of the Nassau County Bar Association’s Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Committee. He has advised, counseled, mediated, and assisted various attorneys and clients regarding fee disputes. As such, he is sensitive to clients’ financial constraints, as well as the need for complete attorney-client communication and understanding.

Mr. Seman also manages the School and Educational Departments. He represents students with special educational needs, as well as other students accused of school-related and criminal misconduct that face criminal prosecution, suspension, and expulsion.

Every client will receive a detailed, written, retainer-engagement letter that serves to protect them.

Pro Bono Activities

1 and 9The Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition

The Hewlett House (a subsidiary of 1 in 9)

Michael’s HavenMickey’s Corner (a subsidiary of Michael’s Haven)

Coach Mentor: State-Wide Mock Trial Competition (Kellenberg Memorial High School, Bellmore-Merrick High School, East Meadow High School)

Published Works

Attorney Fees & Attorney-Client Fee Disputes: Mandatory and Voluntary Arbitrations, The Nassau Lawyer, The Journal of the Nassau County Bar Association, January, Vol 51 No.5, 2002DWI:-Pre-conviction License Suspensions and Hardship Hearings: Legal and Practical Analysis, The Attorney of Nassau County, September, Vol 4, No.: 1, 1996

The Federal Courts: Habeas Corpus and Recent Meanings of Cause and Prejudice, 10 American Journal of Criminal Law, Univ. of Texas Law School, November 1982

A Juvenile’s Waiver of the Privilege Against Self-Incrimination: A Federal and State Comparison, 10 American Journal of Criminal Law, Univ of Texas Law School, March 1982DWI: Pre-Conviction License Suspension: Pringle Hearings

Classes/Seminars

Adjunct Professor, Criminal Law and Procedure, (New York Institute of Technology)

Legal Instructor, Criminal and DWI Defense, NCBALecturer, NCBA Speaker’s Program

Legal Instructor, State-Wide High School Trial Competition, NYS Bar Association

Legal Instructor, Man v. Machine

Legal Instructor, Intricacies of Cross-Examination Defense

Legal Instructor and Lecturer, DWI criminal law for inexperienced attorneys

Honors and Awards

Fellow, Sociology Teaching

SuperLawyers – 2013 to 2016

Professional Associations and Memberships

Nassau County Homicide, Major Felony Defense Panel, Assigned Counsel Plan

New York County Major Felony and Homicide Panel Assigned Counsel Plan

Better Business Bureau, Autoline Arbitration, Lemon Law Claims, Arbitrator

American Arbitration Association, New York, New York

Past Employment Positions

District Court, Nassau County, Judicial Arbitrator

Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, Assistant District Attorney, January 1, 1984 – January 31, 1987

Abady & Jaffe, Madison Avenue, New York City, Senior Trial Counsel, November 1, 1987 – October 31, 1988

Newman, Schlau, Fitch & Burns, Lower Broadway, New York City, Senior Trial Associate, July 1, 1987 – October 31, 1987

Levine & Robinson, Mitchel Field, NY, Senior Trial Associate, January 1, 1987 – July 31, 1987

United States Attorney’s Office, Washington D.C., Felony-Trials Division, Law Student Intern, 1982

Judge Henry F. Greene, Washington D.C. Superior Court, Law Student Intern, August 1, 1981 – December 31, 1981

Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, Civil Rights and Consumer Divisions, Boston, Intern, January 1, 1979 – April 30, 1979

Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, Civil Rights and Consumer Divisions, Boston, Intern, April 1, 1978 – June 30, 1978

Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, Civil Rights and Consumer Divisions, Boston, Intern, January 1, 1977 – April 30, 1977

Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, Civil Rights and Consumer Divisions, Boston, Intern, October 1, 1977 – December 31, 1977

First National Bank of Boston, June 1, 1979 – December 31, 1979Arlington Massachusetts Police Services, July 1, 1977 – September 30, 1977