Formed in 1995 as a cooperative venture between the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA), the Judiciary and the state's law schools, the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law's  mission is to contribute to strengthening adherence to standards of professional responsibility, along with a broad respect for the law. Many of these photos were taken at commission programs and its annual luncheon, where its highest honors, the Daniel J. O'Hern Award, the Charles J. Hollenbeck Award and the Lighthouse Award, are given, and county and affinity bar associations present the Professional Lawyer of the Year awards. In honor of the commission's 25th anniversary, some current award recipients and past commission chairs shared their thoughts on what professionalism in the law means to them.

"Professionalism in the law means using skills gained through your education, and your innermost compassion and compass for truth, to guide and advocate for your clients respectfully and zealously before the courts. It is this personal compass for truth and discretion that catapults a lawyer to the position of standard-bearer of this great profession."

—Kimberly A. Yonta, New Jersey State Bar Association, President 2020–2021