The Professionalism Committee is a joint committee of the WCBA and the 10th Judicial District that identifies and addresses issues affecting members of the local bar in the broadest sense of professional responsibility, including the member’s obligation to the system of justice, their clients, themselves, their colleagues, and their community.

The Professionalism Committee administers the annual Joseph Branch Professionalism Award, developed and sponsored the adoption of a WCBA Professionalism Creed and regularly contributes professionalism articles to the WCBA's monthly newsletter.

The Professionalism Committee, in cooperation with the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism, implemented the Professionalism Support Initiative, a pilot project for peer counseling of lawyers and judges. The Professionalism Committee has also participated in an annual free professionalism CLE offered by the WCBA and implemented an annual roundtable discussion on ethics and professionalism issues.

In addition, the Professionalism Committee compiled and published a book of  Wake County lawyers’ observations on professionalism and is in the process of organizing a county-wide lawyer mentoring program. These efforts resulted in the WCBA being awarded the Gambrell Award.

In 2009, the Professionalism Committee introduced the Raising the Bar Program to provide members of the bar the chance to proactively recognize their colleagues who adhere to a high code of professional conduct and notably advance the professionalism of our Bar Association.  Nominations are submitted by members of the bar and reviewed by a sub-committee of the Professionalism Committee.