About Donald
Licenses
Licensed in California for 39 years
State: California
Acquired: 1986
No misconduct found
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Experience
Honors
2015
Premier Trial Attorney for California, American Academy of Trial Attorneys
2015
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers
2015
2015 TOP ATTORNEYS - "Criminal Defense", Orange County Coast Magazine
2015
"Top 100 DUI Attorneys in Souther California", The National Advocacy for DUI Defense, LLC
2015
Lead Counsel Rating Drunk Driving Defense & Criminal Law, Lead Counsel Review Board
2015
"Top 100 Criminal Defesne Lawyers in the State of California", The American Society of Legal Advocates
2014
Client's Choice Award, Avvo
2014
"10 Best" Attorneys for the State of California, American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
2014
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers
2014
2014 Top Attorney, OC Register Metro Magazine
2014
"Top Lawyers in California", The Legal Network
2013
Top 100 DUI Attorneys in California, National Advocacy for DUI Defense, LLC
2013
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers
2013
Top Lawyers in California - Highest Standards & Excellence, American Lawyer Magazine
2013
2013 Edition of Global Who’s Who, Global Who's Who, Inc
2013
Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers in California, American Society of Legal Advocates
2012
Annual Orange County Top Rated Attorneys, OCMETRO Magazine "Top Attorneys"
2011
City Council Proclamation, City of San Juan Capistrano
2010
Congratulatory Letter from President Barak Obama, The White House
2010
The President's Volunteer Service Award, President's Council on Service and Civic Participation
2000
Alumnus of the Year, Southwestern University School of Law
1986
Outstanding Police Detective of the Year, Rotary Club of Santa Monica
1986
Silver Key Award, American Bar Association
1985
Who's Who American Law, Who's Who Legal USA
1984
Student Bar Association President of the Year, National Student Bar Association
1984
Who's Who in America's Universities, Who's Who Legal
Work Experience
2012 - Present
Attorney-at-Law, The Law Offices of Donald G. Sowers
1989 - 2011
Former Partner, Takakjian, Sowers & Sitkoff, LLP
1987 - 2015
Volunteer Instructor (Laws of Arrest - Search & Seizure), Los Angeles County Sheriff's Academy
1986 - 1989
Former Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
1977 - 1986
Former Police Detective, Santa Monica Police Department
1974 - 1977
Sergeant - Reserve, Burbank Police Department
1970 - 1977
Grocery Manager, Ralphs
Associations
1989 - Present
Former District Attorney's Association of Los Angeles CountyMember
1986 - Present
State Bar of CaliforniaMember
2013 - 2014
Orange County Criminal Defense Bar AssociationMember
2007 - 2011
City of San Juan Capistrano - CERTChairman
2006 - 2008
Orange County Bar AssociationMember
2006 - 2015
California Public Defenders AssociationMember
2000 - 2014
California Attorneys for Criminal JusticeMember
1997 - 1998
Los Angeles County Bar Association, Criminal Justice SectionChairman
1995 - 1999
Southwestern University School of Law - Board of TrusteesTrustee
1993 - 1995
Southwestern University School of LawPresident - Alumni Association
1992 - 1994
Make-A-Wish Foundation InternationalVice President
1989 - 2012
Los Angeles County Bar AssociationMember
1989 - 1990
Santa Monica JayceesChairman
1989 - 1996
Santa Monica Bar AssociationMember
1989 - 1996
Malibu Bar AssociationMember
1988 - 1989
Santa Monica Junior Chamber of CommercePresident
1988 - 1993
Make-A-Wish Foundation of AmericaDirector
1984 - 1985
American Bar Association, Law Student DivisionExecutive Lt. Governor
1983 - 1984
Southwestern University School of LawPresident - Student Bar Association
1983 - 1996
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Los AngelesChairman
1982 - 2015
Ameircan Bar Association
Education
1985
JD - Juris Doctor
Speaking Engagements
2015
LD-15 "Laws of Arrest" - Instructor
2014
Disaster Preparedness - What You Do Before, During and After?
2013
Officer Testimony at DMV Hearings and Court Proceedings
2012
2011
Courtroom Testimony - Cross Examination of the Arresting Officer in a DUI Case
2010
Constitutional Law
2009
1998
Keynote Speaker - Entering Class Orientation
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Legal Answers
Do I disclose info regarding a conviction of petty theft infraction which was reduced from a misdemeanor on my application?
08 Dec 2013
Consumption of alcohol in parking lot of Anaheim Stadium - ticketed by horse mounted cops.
05 Sep 2013
Got a cell phone ticket- I was calling 911. Should I hire an attorney?
18 Aug 2013
Legal Guides
Should I Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney or DUI Lawyer in Los Angeles or Orange County?
21 Nov 2009
California DUI - Drunk Driving - Frequently Asked Questions
11 Oct 2009
What Does It Mean to Be on Formal or Informal (Summary) Probation in California?
11 Oct 2009