Kevin Kelly Receives 2024 Lighthouse Award

The New Jersey Commission on Professionalism selected Professor Kevin Kelly, Associate Clinical Professor at Seton Hall University School of Law’s Center for Social Justice, as this year’s recipient of the prestigious Lighthouse Award. The award recognizes individuals who exhibit the utmost professionalism and integrity throughout their legal career and who serve as an inspiration and guiding light to their colleagues in the bar. The award is given out periodically by the Commission on Professionalism to recipients of the Commission’s own choosing.

Professor Kelly concentrates his practice in foreclosure defense, consumer law, housing discrimination and tenants' rights. He was instrumental in launching the Housing Justice Project, a collaborative program between Seton Hall and Rutgers Law Schools to provide representation and support to tenants in landlord-tenant disputes and with other housing needs. Over his 26-year career as a professor, Professor Kelly has taught and mentored more than 400 law students. This is a richly deserved recognition of our colleague, teacher, clinician, and trailblazer. 

The New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law is a unique cooperative venture of the NJSBA, the state and federal judiciary, and New Jersey’s two law schools. The Commission hopes to contribute to a strengthening of the traditional values, and sense of responsibility and public purpose, that have made the practice of law a distinguished profession. Moreover, it works to increase public respect for judges and the justice system. Towards this end, the Commission develops programs and initiatives for lawyers, judges, and law students. It sponsors and participates in educational seminars, takes positions on professional responsibility issues, and serves as an information resource for bar associations. The Commission operates from the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick.

The Commission’s Chair is Justice Barry T. Albin [ret.]. Members include a member of the New Jersey Supreme Court, a federal district court judge, representatives of the state trial and appellate courts, the Deans of New Jersey’s law schools, and distinguished members of the bar.

The New Jersey State Bar Association and the NJ Commission on Professionalism in the Law are hosting the Professionalism Award Luncheon on June 11th, 2024.