Federal Bar Association Lauds Jim Dorsett with Excellence Award

The Eastern District of North Carolina (EDNC) chapter of the Federal Bar Association has recognized Smith Anderson attorney Jim Dorsett with its Judge David Daniel Award for Excellence in the Legal Community.

Named in memory of a former magistrate judge, the award honors one attorney each year who has shown a commitment to the legal profession, to the EDNC, to the clients they serve and to their community. Honorees must practice in the eastern district and exemplify the ideals of the legal profession and further the goals of equal justice under the law.

"Throughout his career, Jim has made intentional choices to give generously of his time and talents to serve the organizations that support all of us in our profession and make us better at what we do," said Jim’s colleague of 36 years, attorney Kim Korando. "This was no ‘side hustle’ for Jim. He has served our local, state, national and international bar organizations steadily and meaningfully throughout his career, both in the trenches doing the work and in leadership positions."

The award was presented to Jim on Feb. 24 at the annual EDNC Federal Bar Association CLE at the Campbell University School of Law. The CLE program was presented by federal judges and attended by lawyers who practice in federal court in the EDNC.

Jim has held many leadership roles, including president of the North Carolina State Bar; president and chair of the North Carolina State Bar Foundation; state chair of the American Bar Foundation; North Carolina state chair of the International Society of Barristers; president of the Eastern North Carolina chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates; president of the American Counsel Association and president of the North Carolina Supreme Court Historical Society.

Jim has spent decades serving the community and the state and was the recipient of the 2021 North Carolina Bar Association Citizen Lawyer Award for his work supporting local charities such as Loaves & Fishes and Food Runners Collaborative; civic organizations such as the Rotary Club of Raleigh, the Fifty Group and schools including Ravenscroft and Davidson College.

At Smith Anderson, Jim practices in the areas of commercial litigation, products liability and tort and insurance litigation. His work includes the representation of corporations and individuals in contract and shareholder suits, claims related to decedents' estates, including will caveats, legal malpractice cases and the defense of manufacturers in products liability cases in the state and federal courts. Jim also represents individuals in selected cases involving serious personal injuries, brain injury and wrongful death.

About FBA

The Federal Bar Association (FBA), founded in 1920, is dedicated to the advancement of the science of jurisprudence and to promoting the welfare, interests, education, and professional development of all attorneys involved in federal law. Our members run the gamut of federal practice: attorneys practicing in small to large legal firms, attorneys in corporations and federal agencies, and members of the judiciary. The FBA is the catalyst for communication between the bar and the bench, as well as the private and public sectors.