Cowan Named CLE Volunteer of the Year

Article Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Written By: Russell Rawlings

Don Cowan

J. Donald Cowan Jr., past president of the North Carolina Bar Association, has been named the NCBA Foundation CLE Volunteer of the Year. Formal announcement of the award transpired Jan. 22 in conjunction with the winter meeting of the NCBA Board of Governors and NCBA Foundation Board of Directors.

Cowan practices law with Ellis & Winters, maintaining offices in Greensboro and Raleigh.

His recognition as the CLE Volunteer of the Year will come as no surprise to anyone who has attended one of his numerous CLE presentations. Of particular note are his Advanced Trial Evidence program and his Annual Civil Law Update.

Every three years since 1994, Cowan has planned and spoken at an Advanced Trial Evidence program. This program routinely draws some 150 attendees. It is the only evidence program offered by the NCBA Foundation specifically designed for senior litigators.

For the seventh year in a row this summer, Cowan will present his Annual Civil Law Update at the NCBA Annual Meeting, scheduled June 25-28 at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville.

This program is truly a “one-man show.” For two hours, Cowan provides an update on significant civil law cases in North Carolina to Annual Meeting attendees. This program is, without question, the most popular and well-attended CLE program offered in conjunction with the NCBA Annual Meeting.

In addition to speaking at numerous CLE programs, Cowan also served as a program planner – “Staying Power: Managing Competing Demands to Benefit Lawyers, Law Firms and Clients” – and panelist -- “Clarence Darrow: Crimes, Causes and the Courtroom.”

“Given his extensive participation in the Bar Foundation CLE programs,” nominating materials stated, “participation that extends well over a decade of dedicated service, Don Cowan represents the epitome of a North Carolina Bar Association member who recognizes the importance of Continuing Legal Education to our profession and contributes to it as a speaker, planner and participant. For these reasons, it is a pleasure for the CLE Committee of the North Carolina Bar Foundation to nominate Don Cowan as the CLE Volunteer of the Year.”

Cowan is a native of Raleigh. He is a 1965 graduate of Wake Forest University and 1968 graduate of the Wake Forest University School of Law. He served from 1968-73 in the U.S. Army, where he attained the rank of captain.

He was honored last year by the NCBA Litigation Section as the second recipient of its Advocate’s Award.

Cowan serves as an adjunct professor for the Duke University School of Law and, since 1992, provides annual presentations to the N.C. Superior Court Judges Conference and the N.C. Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

In addition to serving as president in 1992-93, Cowan has been active within the NCBA throughout his career. He chaired the Young Lawyers Division in 1979-80 and served on the Board of Governors from 1983-85. He chaired the Litigation Section in 1985-86 and the CLE Committee from 1988-91.

A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Cowan has served on the ABA House of Delegates and as president of Legal Services of North Carolina. He has served multiple terms on the Wake Forest University Board of Trustees and served as president of the Wake Forest Law Alumni Association.