Lee M. Hymerling
Divorce Law - Haddonfield, NJ

It's true, I've worn a lot of hats over the years. Committee and subcommittee chairs, special committee chairs, you could say I've been something of a groupie of the state bar. Or better yet, a Supreme Court Committee groupie. I've spent a lot of evenings on the state's highways attending meetings of one type or another. But from the beginning, I was in a unique position. I was there when it all began. I was able to act on a vision of what I thought the law should be.

The law and lawyers are not perfect, and participation is really the best way to see that a consensus for change takes place. I do it because I want the law to serve us; I care about lawyers more than most people do.

I've had some very good mentors: Judge Herbert Horn, for whom I clerked, and Justice Morris Pashman. They were great influences. Everyone who is successful has great mentors, and I am no exception.

I think there are three things that I am most proud of. First is creating New Jersey Family Lawyer, which has been an important forum for the state's matrimonial attorneys. Second is serving on the Disciplinary Review Board for the Supreme Court. And third was co-chairing the Supreme Court's Special Committee on Matrimonial Litigation. The court adopted virtually all the recommendations that we presented.

Divorce is no less difficult and painful today than it was when I started. Certainly, roles are different, but I don't see any less emotion, any less trauma. The matrimonial attorney must be sensitive to every element of the divorce, particularly how the outcome affects children. It's not simply a matter of handling a legal case that leads to distribution of assets.

I've loved every minute of it. I feel as though I've got a lot more to do. The last thing I want to do is slow down.

Lee M. Hymerling
"From the beginning I was in a unique position. I was there when it all began. I was able to act on a vision of what I thought the law should be."