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NAPABA Law Foundation (NLF) Names Three 2025 SAIL Scholars

Washington, DC (August 6, 2025) — The NAPABA Law Foundation (NLF) announced today that three exceptional second-year law students have been awarded SAIL Scholarships for their outstanding professional promise and leadership potential:

  • Justin Chock, Yale Law School, is an editor of the Yale Law Journal and the Yale Journal on Regulation; co-chair of the Native American Association; and professional development co-chair of the Veterans Association. He received an M.Phil. in international relations from the University of Oxford, which he attended on a full scholarship, and a B.S. in political science with honors from the U.S. Naval Academy. Prior to law school, Justin served as a gunnery and ordnance officer on a U.S. Navy destroyer; chief military liaison with the U.S. Forces Japan Intelligence Directorate; and a master instructor in political science and cyber science at the U.S. Naval Academy.

  • Jason Huang, Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and Watts School of Public Policy, is a joint J.D./M.P.P. student and president of the St. Thomas More Society; vice president of the Federal Bar Association; 1L rep for the Disabled Law Students Association; and a member of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. Jason has received numerous awards during law school, including the Thomas Tang Scholarship. Previously an emergency medical technician for Medstar Solutions and a combat engineer with the Army National Guard, Jason received his B.A. in liberal arts from Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California.

  • Heajune (June) Lee, Harvard Law School, is executive vice president of the Harvard National Security & Law Association and public interest chair of the Korean Association. She has served as co-lead for the North Korea Cyber Working Group, program coordinator and research assistant with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton, and a cyber policy advisor with the U.S. Department of Defense. June received her B.A. in international relations, with a minor in computer science, from Stanford University, where she received the William J. Perry Prize for excellence in policy-relevant research.

“Jason, June, and Justin exemplify academic excellence, leadership in their schools, and a deep commitment to their communities,” said NLF President Bonnie Wolf. “NLF and SAIL are proud to support their journeys toward legal careers and public service, knowing they will continue to uplift and advocate for their communities along the way.”

“We are excited to welcome Justin, Jason, and June into the sixth cohort of SAIL Scholars,” said Ivan Fong, who, with his wife Sharon, endowed the NLF SAIL Scholarship program. “Each of them shows great promise as a leader who gives generously of their time and effort to the broader community. We could not be more delighted to help them as they complete their academic work and become part of the next generation of leaders in our profession.”

Two unique aspects of the SAIL Scholarship program are that, in addition to monetary support, SAIL Scholars will also receive mentoring and leadership development from each other and from a network of legal and community leaders. “A second feature of this scholarship program,” said Sharon Fong, “is that the recipients commit to ‘paying it forward’ — by supporting each other, future SAIL Scholars, and the communities in which they will live and work.”

The 2025 NLF SAIL Scholarship selection committee was comprised of Suzan Chau, Supervising Attorney for the Elder Justice & Civil Resource Center for the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania; the Honorable Theodore Chuang, U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland; Esther Lim, Partner and Chief Community Officer at Finnegan; and Caroline Tsai, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer at FIS.

NLF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that carries out its work primarily by awarding scholarships and fellowships that promote the interests of the Asian Pacific American community. Since its founding, the Foundation has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships and nearly $1 million in fellowships and internships.

For more information about NLF and the SAIL Scholarship program and application process, please visit napabalawfoundation.org/scholarships.

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Labor & Employment Law Committee Hosts “Sip & Social” Event in K-Town

On July 24, 2025, AABANY’s Labor & Employment Law Committee hosted a Sip & Social event at Turntable Chicken Jazz in Koreatown. AABANY members and non-members alike, including current law students and working professionals, came together to chat about everything from the impact of artificial intelligence in the legal space to recent challenges in the labor and employment law practice area. Attendees also caught up with both new and familiar faces at the event while sipping on beer and soju, and enjoying Korean fried chicken, spicy rice cakes, and other small Korean dishes. 

The Labor & Employment Law Committee aims to host regular “Sip & Social” events to allow members to engage and connect over shared interests. The Committee encourages those interested in labor and employment law to attend future events and to visit the Committee’s subpage on the AABANY website for more information.

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The Model Minority Victim: Professor Elaine Chiu’s Legal Critique of Anti-Asian Hate

In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, as headlines reported a spike in anti-Asian violence across the United States, legal scholar and former prosecutor Elaine Chiu found herself asking a question that few others were: was the criminal legal system actually helping Asian American victims? Her article, published in the Santa Clara Law Review in June 2025, The Model Minority Victim, emerges from this inquiry with a sobering answer. Drawing on a first-of-its-kind empirical database built by the Anti-Asian Violence Task Force (AAVTF)—a joint project of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) and the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY)—Professor Chiu followed 276 reported anti-Asian hate crimes in New York City in 2021, tracking each case from the initial police response to prosecution and sentencing. Of those cases, only 25 resulted in hate crime convictions.

Beyond its grim statistics, Professor Chiu’s article offers a powerful critique of the structural and cultural forces that render the law ineffective when it comes to anti-Asian violence. She argues that outdated hate crime statutes, high evidentiary burdens for proving motive, and deeply embedded racial stereotypes, particularly the “model minority” myth, all contribute to a system that routinely fails to see Asian Americans as worthy victims of racism. The result, she argues, is a legal system that fails to protect Asian American victims and actively reinforces racial hierarchies.

Professor Chiu has a long-standing history of leadership in the legal field. In recognition of her leadership, AABANY honored Professor Chiu with their Women’s Leadership Award in 2025, presented during the AABANY Annual Dinner, held on May 29, recognizing her illustrious career and community service, including her work with AAVTF and her role in publishing the landmark report, Endless Tide: The Continuous Struggle to Overcome Anti-Asian Hate in New York. In her acceptance speech, Professor Chiu acknowledged the profound connection between law and identity: “The law feeds and nourishes our families, but it also feeds and nourishes our beliefs about humanity, our country, and our identity as Americans.” Reflecting on her formative years and career, she spoke about her enduring desire to help people, firmly placing her hope in the rule of law. She urged the audience to hold onto that hope and to “show up, stand up, and speak up.”

Building on her belief in the interconnectedness of the law and identity, Professor Chiu’s article is grounded in her experience as a former Assistant District Attorney. When asked how her background as a former ADA and legal scholar shaped her approach, she replied, “I always knew there was a whole other story of what could happen after an arrest.” While the police often serve as the first responders, the prosecutors are the ones who shape the legal narrative. Lawyers, she noted, are uniquely positioned to “chase the string on every case,” following each story beyond the moment of arrest to ultimately deliver justice.

Together with the AAVTF, Professor Chiu advocates for reform. She supports revising hate crime laws to clarify the types of evidence that can support a bias motivation and calls for improved training so that the police and lawyers can better recognize and pursue racially motivated violence. But she also acknowledges the limits of legal reform alone. Cultural narratives, too, must shift. Stereotypes that dehumanize Asian Americans, even in their most vulnerable moments, must be actively rejected.

The creation of the AAVTF itself speaks to this dual mission of legal and cultural change. Founded in 2021, the Task Force emerged out of a collective urgency to respond to the rising tide of violence and was designed to “cover the now,” as Professor Chiu explains. While the hope was that the AAVTF would someday no longer be needed, Professor Chiu remains steadfast in her desire for the surge in Asian American advocacy not to fade into silence. “It was electric,” she says, remembering the activism that rose alongside the hate. “I hope it doesn’t [go quiet].”

In The Model Minority Victim, Professor Chiu offers more than a critique of the criminal legal system. She gives us a way to see—to understand how and why justice fails, and what must change to ensure it doesn’t continue. The article is a reminder that legal reform, if it is to be meaningful, must be paired with a broader reimagining of whose pain the system recognizes, whose voices it validates, and whose lives it protects.

If you are interested in reading the full article, Chiu, Elaine M., The Model Minority Victim, 65 Santa Clara L. Rev. 451 (2025), you can find it here.

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AABANY Hosts Dumplings & Discussion Fireside Chat with Sonia Low

On Wednesday, July 30, AABANY hosted one of its most highly attended Dumplings & Discussion events to date, featuring Sonia Low, Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Held at the New York offices of Fish & Richardson in Times Square, the event drew 40 attendees—a diverse and engaged crowd of law students, practicing attorneys, and even family members of AABANY members.

The room was filled to capacity, with attendees lining up along the back wall to listen in on the candid discussion. In an insightful conversation moderated by Jeff Mok, Principal at Fish & Richardson and AABANY Board Director, Sonia shared her journey to Javits, reflecting on her early inspiration to pursue law and experiences in previous corporate roles. She also spoke about the evolving nature of the workplace, the importance of adaptability, and what it means to lead with authenticity and purpose.

Among the attendees was David Feeser, VP of Business Development at 1031 Specialists, who brought along his wife, Te-Hsing Niu, and their 12-year-old daughter. “I wanted my daughter to hear firsthand how people don’t always follow a straight path,” David shared. “Sonia’s story showed her that it’s okay to go through a variety of career changes before finding where you’re meant to be.” 

Following the discussion, attendees stayed for a relaxed networking reception. Over plates of shrimp har gow, black bean chicken, and other delicious bites, seasoned practitioners and young aspiring lawyers discussed a range of reflections on the fireside chat and their own experiences in the legal field.

AABANY extends its deepest thanks to Sonia Low for her candor and generosity, and to Fish & Richardson for graciously hosting the event. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us for such a vibrant and memorable evening.

Keep an eye out on the AABANY calendar for the next Dumplings & Discussion event!

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IP Committee Hosts Dinner at Ziggle Tofu and Grill

On Monday, July 28, AABANY’s Intellectual Property Committee gathered for its monthly dinner, this time over a flavorful Korean meal at Ziggle Tofu & Grill. Located in the heart of Manhattan, the restaurant offered a cozy space for members to unwind, connect, and enjoy a variety of Korean comfort dishes.

The table quickly filled with bubbling tofu stews, sizzling BBQ platters, and side dishes passed around family-style. With food at the center, conversations flowed easily—from recent developments in AI and IP law to summer travel plans.

These monthly dinners have become a highlight for the Committee, offering a relaxed setting to build community outside of the typical networking events and panel discussions. For newer members and first-time attendees, it was a great way to get involved and meet others with shared interests.

If you’re interested in future dinners, keep an eye on the AABANY calendar for upcoming events.  To learn more about this committee, visit the IP Committee subpage on the AABANY website.

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AABANY and RAINY Host Summer Happy Hour at Albert’s Bar

On Wednesday, July 23, AABANY’s Commercial Bankruptcy & Restructuring Committee partnered with Restructuring and Insolvency Network New York (RAINY) to host a Summer Happy Hour at Albert’s Bar in Midtown Manhattan.

Over 30 professionals from both the legal and business sides of restructuring came together over drinks to network, catch up with colleagues, and meet new faces in the field. The crowd was filled with a range of people, from journalists studying for the LSAT to business school graduates with long-standing careers in restructuring.

Alex Xiao, the organizer from RAINY, described the mixer as a simple but meaningful way to connect people across the industry. The strong turnout and energetic atmosphere proved just how valuable these informal gatherings can be.

AABANY is proud to support opportunities that bring together practitioners across sectors and practice areas. Many thanks to RAINY for co-hosting, and to everyone who joined us for a great summer evening in Midtown.

To learn more about the Commercial Bankruptcy and Restructuring Committee and how you can get involved, go here.

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NAPABA Statement in Response to Justice Department Guidance Following Revocation of Language Access Guarantees

For Immediate Release:
July 18, 2025		Contact:
Rahat N. Babar, Deputy Executive
Director

NAPABA Statement in Response to Justice Department Guidance Following Revocation of Language Access Guarantees

WASHINGTON — Over four months ago, President Trump revoked Executive Order 13166 and purportedly designated English as the official language of the United States.  It marked a dramatic setback for LEP individuals, and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities will bear the brunt of such misguided action. The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) immediately condemned the revocation.

For nearly 25 years, Executive Order 13166 served as a cornerstone of the federal government’s commitment to civil rights. It required that every federal agency meet the needs of limited English proficient (LEP) individuals when it delivers critical services. It similarly required those that received federal funding, such as non-profit organizations as well as state and local governments, to guarantee that LEP individuals had meaningful access to their services.  

On July 14, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice released guidance to implement the revocation of Executive Order 13166. It has rescinded all prior guidance to recipients of federal funding pertaining to the protections of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and suspended all existing LEP guidance. It emphasizes English-only operations without accounting for the need for LEP individuals to access critical, life-sustaining services.

The new guidance further deepens the harm caused by the revocation of Executive Order 13166. It undermines decades of progress to make government and federally funded programs more accessible. Rather than a core requirement for non-discriminatory compliance, the new guidance weakens the legal framework to combat national origin discrimination, which is prohibited by Title VI, and treats language access as merely discretionary.

We continue to call on Congress to engage in appropriate oversight over the Administration’s unwarranted actions and pursue legislative actions to strengthen and expand the protections of Title VI.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) represents the interests of over 80,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and over 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Through its national network, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of all backgrounds in the legal profession.

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2025 NAPABA Convention: August 5 deadline to Apply for a Scholarship

The 2025 NAPABA Convention is just 100 days away! Don’t miss this powerful opportunity to advance your legal career through dynamic programs, inspiring speakers, and unparalleled networking with fellow AANHPI legal professionals.

We know that cost can be a barrier, which is why NAPABA offers scholarships to help make attending more accessible. Scholarships—including a general scholarship and a dedicated law student scholarship—can be used to help cover registration, travel, and lodging expenses.

Apply by August 5th. As a current NAPABA member, now is the time to take advantage of this opportunity. Please note: the Law Student Scholarship application closes September 16 at 8 pm ET.

Join us in Denver this November and apply for a Convention scholarship today!

Apply for the General
Scholarship
Apply for the Law Student
Scholarship
Register for the Early Bird Rate for the 2025 NAPABA Convention

Questions

Additional resources about the Convention are on our website. For further questions, email us at convention@napaba.org.

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AALFNY and AABANY Host Summer Reception at FTI Consulting, Congratulating AALFNY 2025 Public Interest Scholarship Recipients

On Thursday, July 17, 2025, the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY) and the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) hosted their Summer Reception at FTI Consulting in mid-town Manhattan. The reception also recognized the 2025 AALFNY Public Interest Scholarship recipients. The event featured Judge Denny Chin, Co-Director of the Center on Asian Americans and the Law at Fordham Law School, as the event’s distinguished guest speaker. 

Sylvia Chin, President of AALFNY and Chair of the Anti-Asian Violence Task Force delivered opening remarks and invited AALFNY’s directors onstage, where they introduced themselves.

Benjamin Hsing, AABANY President, introduced AABANY, recognized Fordham Law’s Center on Asian Americans and the Law, and urged professionals and students to join AABANY to strengthen the AAPI legal community. Ben also highlighted AALFNY’s public interest scholarships, emphasizing their role in fostering the next generation of legal professionals.

Next, AABANY’s Pro Bono and Community Service Committee Co-Chairs Beatrice Leong and Gary Yeung presented on AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinics. Gary explained that they take place in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. The Clinics provide culturally and linguistically competent attorneys and interpreters for individualized legal assistance, offering free consultations to the community. AABANY is celebrating the 10 year anniversary of its Pro Bono Clinics and is expecting to host a fundraiser soon. Beatrice thanked all the volunteers who contributed to making the Pro Bono Clinics successful. Gary encouraged people to volunteer at clinics, especially in Queens, where there is a greater need for volunteers to assist the large AAPI and immigrant population in that part of Queens.

Sylvia proceeded to honor the recipients of AALFNY’s 2025 Public Interest Scholarships: 

  • Lori Giargias, St. John’s University School of Law, Class of 2027, interning with the Jewish Association Serving the Aging Legal Services for the Elderly in Queens, aims to assist individuals at risk of losing their homes. 
  • Jiaqi Huang, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, Class of 2025, is interning with the Legal Aid Society’s Immigration Law Unit to support efforts serving the Asian American community. 
  • Issalina Sagad, CUNY School of Law, Class of 2027, interning with Catholic Charities Community Services, will learn how legal aid can be made more accessible. 
  • Eqra Muhammad, St. John’s University School of Law, Class of 2025, is interning with the Urban Justice Center’s Domestic Violence Project’s Immigration Team, working to support survivors of domestic violence.

AALFNY annually grants Public Interest Scholarships to law students who have demonstrated a strong dedication to serving the community. Since 1997, AALFNY has awarded over 60 scholarships, supporting  deserving law students financially while motivating them to apply their legal education to benefit the Asian American community in New York. The scholarship aims to encourage law students to have a lasting commitment to public service in New York. 


Rocky Chin, NYC Human Rights Commissioner and AALFNY Board Member, discussed the history of the Center on Asian Americans and Law and thanked its founders: Judge Denny Chin and Professor Thomas H. Lee. Thomas H. Lee, Co-Director of the Center on Asian American and the Law, proceeded to talk about the inspiration behind AABANY’s reenactments, whose scripts can be requested from the AABANY Trial Reenactments website. The trial reenactments cover landmark cases involving Asian Americans and have been performed all over the country by other bar associations, law schools, and community groups.

Judge Denny Chin notably said, “In doing reenactments, I fell in love with Asian American history.” He presented slides depicting the Center’s events and activities, including past Fall Symposiums, screenings, teaching workshops, and reenactments. Currently, teaching materials from the Center are being used at 14 law schools: Albany, Columbia, Cornell, CUNY, Fordham, Harvard, Rutgers-Newark, SMU, Stanford, St. John’s, Touro, UC San Francisco, University of Virginia, and Yale. 

Judge Chin opened the floor for questions after the presentation, during which he discussed the concept of doing trial reenactments of AAPI cases was inspired by historical trial reenactments that had previously been done at the Federal Bar Council. Judge Chin also emphasized how AABANY’s Reenactments about trials involving Asian Americans are becoming increasingly relevant to modern day issues. 

Next, Sylvia recognized the dignitaries present and thanked everyone for their attendance. Rocky encouraged people to take the informative materials available detailing the Center on Asian Americans and Law and the Anti-Asian Violence Task Force. He also urged people to continue to work together and to partner with more Asian American community organizations. 

Guests had the opportunity to mingle during the reception afterward, where attendees, from law students to seasoned attorneys, built new connections. Thank you to FTI Consulting for generously providing the space for this event. 

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AABANY and KALAGNY Host 2025 Summer Associate Mixer

On Tuesday, July 22, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) and the Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York (KALAGNY) co-hosted the Summer Associate Mixer at TapHaus 33 in Midtown Manhattan, bringing together a lively group of summer associates, law students, and practicing attorneys for an evening of networking, conversation, and community building.

A range of beers was featured, including eclectic flavors like piña colada and apple cider.  The mixer created a relaxed and welcoming environment for young lawyers and students navigating the early stages of their legal careers. Surrounded by tables laden with fries and nachos, the more than 70 attendees, from incoming law students to experienced law firm partners, filled the air with a steady buzz of laughter and conversation.

Midway through the evening, AABANY President Benjamin Hsing and KALAGNY President Lawrence Han addressed the crowd. They offered a warm welcome and encouraged attendees to take full advantage of the gathering. “As aspiring lawyers, connecting with people is extremely important,” President Han said. “This is exactly the kind of space where you should feel comfortable doing that. Everyone’s here to meet new people, so don’t be afraid to start a conversation.”

Law student attendees to the event will receive a complimentary annual membership to both AABANY and KALAGNY. A big thank you to the organizers and to everyone who joined us. We’re excited to continue building meaningful connections through events like this.

As you explore ways to stay involved with AABANY, we invite students and summer associates to visit the Student Outreach Committee (SOC) webpage to learn more about upcoming events, mentorship opportunities, and how to get connected with our vibrant community of Asian American legal professionals. Check out more photos from the mixer in our Google Photo album!

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