The Wake County Bar Association and Tenth Judicial District Bar were very honored to receive the E. Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Award at the American Bar Association meeting in San Francisco on August 10, 2007. This award recognizes projects that enhance professionalism among lawyers. In announcing the selection of the Wake County Bar Association, the ABA noted that it was particularly impressed with the depth and excellence of the Wake County programs and the obvious commitment of the lawyers of this bar to professionalism. The Wake County Bar and the Tenth Judicial District have focused on maintaining and developing professionalism for over a decade. Under the able leadership of David Long and Carlyn Poole, numerous programs and projects have been designed and implemented including:

* Joseph Branch Professionalism Award
* Professionalism Creed
* Continuing Legal Education seminars on professionalism
* Ethics roundtable discussions
* Professionalism Support Initiative program for peer counseling for attorneys and judges.
* "Practicing Law" - Recently-released book on professionalism
This award is a culmination of years of unstinting dedication and commitment by many members of our bar to the principles of professionalism.