SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY 803.324.6752
Meet
John O. McDougall
Partner
As a founding partner of our law firm, John O. McDougall hosts over 40 years of experience practicing law in South Carolina. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1971, and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in the same year. In addition to his work with McDougall, Self, Currence & McLeod, LLP, he is also a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, and the South Carolina Association for Justice.
John O. McDougall is the second lawyer to be president of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association and the South Carolina Bar Association within the history of the two organizations. He is also the only lawyer limiting his practice to matrimonial law to be president of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association and the South Carolina Bar Association. John O. McDougall has been nominated as one of the Best Lawyers in America by Woodward/White, Inc. since 1991.
BAR ACTIVITIES & LEGAL AFFILIATIONS
- South Carolina Association For Justice
- Board of Governors (1984-1997)
- Executive Committee (1986 -1988)
- Secretary (1988 -1990)
- Treasurer (1990 -1991)
- Vice-President (1991 -1992)
- President Elect (1992 -1993)
- President (1993 -1994)
- South Carolina Bar
- Board of Governors (1987 -1990; 1993 -1997)
- Secretary (1995-1996);
- Treasurer (1996-1997);
- President Elect (1997 -1998);
- President (1998 -1999)
- House of Delegates (3rd Judicial Circuit) South Carolina Bar (1990 -1994)
- Chairman, Public Affairs Committee/South Carolina Bar (1991 -1992)
- Chairman, Professional Responsibility Committee/South Carolina Bar (1992 -1993)
- Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline of the South Carolina Supreme Court (1984-1996)
- Judicial Qualifications Committee (July 2001 -June 2003)
- Memory Hold the Door Committee (2009 – 2017); Senior Law Division; Executive Committee Secretary (2014-2015); President Elect (2015-2016); President (2016-2017)
- Senior Law Division; Executive Committee Secretary (2014-2015), President Elect (2015-2016), President (2016-2017)
- South Carolina Bar Foundation
-
- Board Member (2004 -2006)
- President Elect (2006 -2007)
- President (2007 -2008)
- Immediate Past President (2008 -2009)
- Family Law Section of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association (Chairman, 1985 -1986)
- Family Law Section Council of the South Carolina Bar Chairman (1989 -1990)
- Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (1983)
- Board of Governors (1998 -2001)
- Nominating Committee (2001 -2002)
- Changing American Families Committee (2001)
- National Examination Test Committee (2001)
- Admissions Procedures Committee (2001, 2002)
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation
- Board Member (2004 -2008)
- Secretary (2006 -2007)
- President Elect (2007 -2009)
- President (2009 -2011)
- South Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- President (1992 -1994)
- International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Fellow; Secretary, USA Chapter (2006 -2007)
- one of the Vice Presidents (2007 -2010)
- Finance Committee, Chairman (2011-2017)
- American College of Family Trial Lawyers, Diplomate (1995 to present)
- South Carolina Law Institute (1998)
- Board of Trustees, Sisters of Charity Foundation
WIFE
- Jodie A. McDougall
EDUCATION
- Hanahan High School
- Undergraduate Degree (A.B.) from Wofford College
- Law Degree from USC School of Law
- Admitted to the South Carolina Bar
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
- Shandon Baptist Church/Columbia, Budget Planning & Stewardship Committee (2002-2003; 2006-2009; 2010-2013; 2014-2016); Finance Committee (Chairman 2002-2003; 2008-2009; 2012-2013); Sunday School/Young Adults, Newlyweds (Teacher 2002-2003)
- First Presbyterian Church/Sumter
- Sumter Rotary Club
- Sumter County Housing Authority, Board of Directors (1981-1985); Chairman (1985)
- Sumter County Election Commission (1978-1979); Chairman (1979)
- Palmetto Legal Services, Board of Directors (1982-1986); Executive Committee (1985-1986)
- Sumter County YWCA Sexual Assault Committee (1987)
- BPOE #0855
- Ducks Unlimited/Sumter County Chapter/Columbia Chapter
- Executive Committee (1987-1992)
- Chairman/Sponsors (1987-1991)
- Advisory Board and Bench/Bar Committee for the South Carolina Families for Kids (1997-1998) Citizens Advisory Committee on Judicial Qualifications for the Judicial Merit Selection Commission (Chairman, Pee Dee Area) (1997-1998)
- Judicial Qualifications Committee, South Carolina Bar (2001 - 2003)
PUBLICATIONS
- “Does South Carolina Have Jurisdiction to Enforce Georgia Custody Decree” published in the South Carolina Trial Lawyer Bulletin, Spring 2000
- “Business Valuation in Family Court” published in the South Carolina Lawyer, September/October 2001
- “Overview of the South Carolina Guardian ad Litem Reform Act” published in the South Carolina Trial Lawyer Bulletin, Summer 2002
- “Overview of Amended Name Change Statute” submitted for publication in the South Carolina Lawyer, January/February 2003
HONORS
- South Carolina Bar Foundation/Life Fellow
- Best Lawyers in America (1991 to present, Woodward/White, Inc. Publications): Family Law Designation
- Who's Who in American Law (Marquis Publication)
- Steven's Who's Who in Practicing Attorneys
- National Registry of Who's Who
- Strathmore's Who's Who
- South Carolina Super Lawyers
- AV rated for over 25 years
- Greater Columbia Business Monthly's 2010 Legal Elite
- University of South Carolina School of Law; Platinum Complete Lawyer Award (2016)
- University of South Carolina School of Law; Scholarship Family Law Award in name of John O. McDougall
LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS
- South Carolina Bar
- United States Supreme Court
- South Carolina Association For Justice
- American Trial Lawyers Association
- American Bar Association
- Sumter County Bar Association
- Richland County Bar Association
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow (1983)
- South Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- American College of Family Trial Lawyers, Diplomate
- American Inns of Court – John Belton O’Neall Inn Chapter
FRATERNITIES
- Delta Sigma Phi (Social)
- Phi Delta Phi (Legal)