“Professionalism.” It’s not a complicated nor hard-to-understand word or concept. At times, being professional is second nature, particularly when those around us exhibit professionalism. When emails are courteous, deadlines are respected, conversations — while sounding in advocacy — are appropriately measured and poignant disagreements remain civil, being professional can feel like the default setting we are called upon to honor in our profession. Unfortunately, this is often not the environment in which our commitment to professionalism is tested. It is when emails belittle and insult, and deadlines are ignored (or are unjustly extended), causing chaos for our professional and personal schedules, conversations are strained and even minor disagreements mushroom into blowups — these are the times when the call to be professional is often taxed. When a co-counsel cuts corners or takes credit that is not theirs; when a client lashes out in frustration; when a judge’s patience wears thin; or when we find ourselves treated in a way that feels disrespectful, unfair or deliberately provocative, those are the moments where many of us must dig deep to ensure professionalism is more than aspirational for us and is instead a core component of who we are.

How do we get to that place, though? After all, the legal profession is adversarial by design; and strong advocacy requires confidence, persistence, and sometimes confrontation. This reality can make it tempting to mirror the tone or tactics of others, even when they cross lines that we ordinarily steer clear of. I’ve learned over the years that neither zealously advocating for a client nor our response to a difficult opponent need be at odds with crafting a top-shelf brand of professionalism as part of our identity as lawyers. But I’ve also learned that learning this is not enough to achieve the professionalism our profession warrants and that those around us deserve from us. Crafting a top-shelf brand of professionalism requires time, effort, experience, commitment, personal growth and reflection and intent.

Building that kind of brand is not always comfortable. Top-shelf professionalism is not merely performative politeness. It is not weakness masquerading as courtesy. It is a deliberate, disciplined choice to operate at your highest professional standard regardless of the external circumstances. It is tapping into your emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and professional credibility so you can respond rather than react, preserve and build relationships, and move closer to the best version of you that you are capable of being. Intentional pauses, clarity, precision, and empathy make the difference when tensions run high and so does surrounding yourself with peers and mentors who model professionalism well.

While cultivating top-shelf professionalism requires much of us, it delivers much as well. It is an act of self-respect, and it is a strategic asset. Choosing not to repay unprofessionalism in kind reflects confidence in one’s own competence, judgment and values, and it preserves credibility, clarity, and in many respects, even control in signaling that your professionalism is not contingent on anyone else’s behavior. Lawyers known for professionalism are trusted more readily by courts, colleagues, and clients. Their representations carry weight even with opponents. Their commitments are believed. Their advocacy is heard rather than dismissed. And over time, that credibility compounds not just for the lawyer displaying it but for others.

The decision is yours to make, of course, but I’d submit to you that working to cultivate a top-shelf brand of professionalism is more than worth the required investment.

March 10, 2026/by professionalismcommittee