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Thank you to all those who attended our Fifth Annual Fall Conference: Empowering Unity and Progress, hosted at Morgan Lewis on September 20, 2014.
With over 300 people registered, the full day of CLE programs and Trial Advocacy Program (hosted at Alston & Bird LLP) were highly informative, productive, and engaging with truly something for everyone. We had panels addressing topics from Asian Americans in the Civil Rights Movement to How to Make it Rain and Keep It Raining. The invite-only In-House Counsel and Judicial Forums provided productive environments for candid discussion.
Gurinder Singh, Vice President of Programs and Operations, kicked off the lunch session by introducing Brad Edmister, Partner at Morgan Lewis, who offered welcoming remarks on behalf of the firm. At the lunch, we were excited to present our inaugural awards. We were honored to present the inaugural Norman Lau Kee Trailblazer Award to Hon. Marilyn Go and the inaugural Law Firm Diversity Award to Perkins Coie LLP.
Executive Director Yang Chen presented the Norman Lau Kee Trailblazer award, recognizing Norman Lau Kee who was present at the event, and then introducing Judge Go. When accepting her award, Judge Go spoke on the importance of being at right place at the right time, most notably on how expectations of Asian Americans have shaped her personal journey and the most opportune times to break barriers. As a trailblazer in the Asian American legal community, she is the first Asian American female to serve as a federal judge and is a founding member of AABANY.
President Clara Ohr presented the Law Firm Diversity Award and introduced Dennis Hopkins, Partner at Perkins Coie, who accepted the Law Firm Diversity Award on behalf of the firm. Dennis remarked on how Perkins is perceived as a leader, but noted humbly that they are “just doing what they should do” and are glad to be receiving acknowledgment.
Gurinder then introduced Helen Wan who spoke about her book The Partner Track and she too spoke of Asian Americans in law, specifically navigating the corporate world. Copies of her just-released paperback edition of her book were available for purchase at the event, and many attendees took the opportunity to pick up a copy and have it inscribed by Helen.
President-elect Will Wang offered closing remarks at the lunch. He reminded everyone to save the date for the 2015 Annual Dinner, to be held on February 25 at Cipriani Wall Street.
We hope all those who attended the Cocktail Reception and Committee Dinners enjoyed some well-deserved refreshment in some good company. We were happy to welcome 185 attendees at the Cocktail Reception hosted one block away at Park Avenue Tavern.
This year, there were five Committee Dinners hosted: Government Service & Public Interest/Litigation/Labor and Employment/Young Lawyers Committees Dinner at Aperitivo; In-House Counsel at Izakaya NoMad; Real Estate and Small & Solo Firm Practice Committees at Cibo; Intellectual Property Comittee at Radiance Tea House and Fine Asian Cuisine; and Tax and Bankruptcy & Restructuring Committees at Capital Grille.
We thank all those who made the day possible: Brad Edmister, Morgan Lewis staff, moderators and panelists, our sponsors for their continuing support, honorees, Helen Wan for speaking, volunteers, and especially you for attending.
PUBLIC NOTICE – U.S. BANKRUPTCY JUDGESHIP VACANCY – DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
Chief Judge Theodore A. McKee of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit announces the application process for a bankruptcy judgeship in the District of New Jersey, seated in Newark.
Applications must be submitted electronically by October 22, 2014.
To apply, go to www.ca3.uscourts.gov for more information or call the Circuit Executives Office at 215-597-0718.
Volunteer Mock Trial Judges Needed! Earn CLE Credit!
Volunteer Mock Trial Judges Needed! Earn CLE Credit!
In 2014, Empire Mock Trial will host our eighth New York World Championship for high school students on October 25-27. Over the past 8 years, students from 4 continents, 6 countries, and 31 states …
Dear AABANY members,
Empire Mock Trial will host its eighth New York World Championship for high school students from October 25-27. Attorneys and judges are needed to serve as judges, jurors, and educators; 3 CLE credits will be awarded.
Preferred deadline to register is October 17.
For more information, please click on the link in the title.
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund Volunteer Opportunity
Special Events Volunteer
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, founded in 1974, is a national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans. By combining litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing, AALDEF works with Asian American communities across the country to secure human rights for all. For more information about AALDEF, please visit our website at www.aaldef.org.
The Special Events Volunteer will assist in the planning, preparation and execution of our annual dinner gala and silent auction in February 2015.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
· Assisting with sponsorship development and outreach, writing materials, managing and following up on reservations, ticket sales, and donations.
· Maintaining databases and files.
· Preparing and maintaining sponsor/donor solicitations and acknowledgments, mailings, and emails.
· Coordinating silent auction/raffle donations, including developing prospects, solicitations and acknowledgment, brochure and silent auction planning, and production.
Some fundraising experience is preferable. Knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel required. Experience using Filemaker is a plus. Volunteers should be able to work 20-30 hours per week. Flexibility with extra hours around the time of special events is necessary. Volunteers must be available to work during AALDEF office hours (9:30AM – 5:30PM). Position starts immediately and will conclude in March 2015.
Interested volunteers should submit a resume by Tuesday, September 30th, 2014.
Please send to:
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street, 12 fl, New York, NY 10013-2815
Attn: J. Weng
Or Email to: [email protected] (write “Special Events Volunteer” in the subject line)
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO DEFEND ASIAN AMERICAN VOTING RIGHTS NY • NJ • MA • PA • NV • MI • TX • GA • LA • VA • MD • DC Asian American Poll Monitoring for Mid-Term — Tuesday, November 4, 2014
In past elections, Asian Americans have faced a series of barriers in exercising their right to vote. When the news media reported on election results, Asian Americans were overlooked. In response, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund along with several partners will monitor the elections for bilingual ballots under the federal Voting Rights Act and to document instances of anti-Asian voter disenfranchisement.
We need your help. In the 2012 elections, 850 volunteers polled 9,096 Asian American voters in 14 states and Washington, DC. Volunteers work in 3-hour shifts. There will be a 90-minute training session for all volunteers. (Attorneys can receive 1.5 CLE credits including 0.5 ethics credit.) Sign up online here. Thank you!
For more information, contact: AALDEF Staff Attorney Jerry Vattamala or Voting Rights Organizer Judy Lei at 800-966-5946 or [email protected]
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AALDEF 2014 Poll Monitoring Trainings
Lite Lunch/ Dinner will be provided.
Advanced Registration required. Sign up here.
Tues., Oct. 14 – Boston
8:30 a.m. – Mintz Levin, 1 Financial Center, Boston, MA 02110
12 noon – Ropes & Gray, 800 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199
6 p.m. – Edwards Wildman, 111 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02199
Wed, Oct. 15 – New York City
12 noon – Shearman & Sterling, 599 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022
Thurs, Oct. 16 – New York City
12 noon – Weil Gotshal, 767 5th Ave, New York, NY 10153
6 p.m. – Wilson Elser, 150 East 42nd Street New York, NY 10017
Fri, Oct. 17 – Las Vegas
12:30 p.m. – Ballard Spahr, 100 North City Parkway, Suite 1750, Las Vegas, NV 89106
6 p.m. – Location TBD
Mon, Oct. 20- Washington DC
12 p.m. – Finnegan, I St NW # 700, Washington, DC 20005
6 p.m. – Crowell & Moring, 1001 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004
Tues, Oct. 21 – Atlanta
12 noon – Ballard Spahr, 999 Peachtree Street, Suite 1000, Atlanta, GA 30309
6 p.m. – CPACS, 3510 Shallowford Rd NE, Chamblee, GA 30341
Wed, Oct. 22 – Houston
12 noon – Fullbright & Jaworski, 1301 McKinney St #5100, Houston, TX 77010
6 p.m. – OCA-Greater Houston, 9800 Town Park #142, Houston TX 77036
Thurs, Oct. 23- New Orleans
2 p.m. – Cotton, Schmidt & Abbot, 650 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130
6 p.m. – VAYLA, 13235 Chef Menteur Hwy, New Orleans, LA 70129
Thurs., Oct, 23 – Ann Arbor/Detroit
12 noon – Detroit, location TBD
6 p.m. – University of Michigan Law School, 625 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (tentative location)
Mon, Oct. 27 – Newark, NJ
12 noon – McCarter & English, 100 Mulberry St, Newark, NJ 07102
Tues, Oct. 28 – Manhattan
12 noon – Baker Hostetler, 45 Rockefeller Plaza #10, New York, NY 10111
6 p.m. – Debevoise & Plimpton, 919 Third Ave, New York, NY 10022
Wed, Oct. 29 – Philadelphia
12 noon – Ballard Spahr, 1735 Market St #5100, Philadelphia, PA 19103
6 p.m. – BPSOS – South Philly, 600 Washington Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147 (tentative location)
Wed, Oct. 29 – Brooklyn
12:45pm – Brooklyn Law School, 250 Joralemon St, Room 500, New York, NY 11201
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AALDEF 2014 Poll Monitoring Co-Sponsors
List as of September 17, 2014.
NATIONAL CO-SPONSORS
Alliance of South Asian American Labor
APIAVote
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development
National Korean American Service & Education Consortium
National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance
North American South Asian Bar Association
OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates
South Asian Americans Leading Together
LOCAL CO-SPONSORS
APIA Vote – Michigan
Asian American Society of Central Virginia
Boat People SOS Delaware Valley – PA
Center for Pan Asian Community Services – GA
Chhaya CDC – NY
Chinese Community Federation of Atlanta – GA
Chinese Progressive Association – MA
Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans of Virginia
Hunter College/CUNY, Asian American Studies Program – NY
Korean American Civic Empowerment of NY/NJ
MinKwon Center for Community Action – NY
OCA Georgia Chapter
OCA Greater Houston Chapter
OCA Las Vegas Chapter
Princeton Asian American Students Association – NJ
University of Maryland, College Park, Asian American Studies Program
University of Massachusetts Boston, Asian American Studies Program
Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association of New Orleans – LA
LEGAL CO-SPONSORS
Asian American Bar Association of Houston
Asian American Bar Association of New York
Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts
Asian American Legal Advocacy Center of Georgia
Asian Bar Association of Las Vegas – NV
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Washington, DC
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania
Asian Pacific American Lawyers Assoc. of New Jersey
Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center – DC
Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Greater Boston Legal Services: Asian Outreach Unit – MA
Korean Amer. Bar Assoc. of the Washington DC Area
Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater NY
Louisiana Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Pace Law School, Public Interest Law Center – NY
Suffolk U. Law School, Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service – MA
and Asian Pacific American Law Student Association chapters across the country.
Empire Justice Center Diversity Clerkship Program – Rochester, New York
This program seeks to increase diversity in the legal profession in the Rochester area by attracting qualified second-year law students from historically under-represented groups, including racial and ethnic minorities or those who grew up in low income households, to work in a paid position with our organization. By providing a Rochester-based work experience to law students of diverse backgrounds, we believe we are moving toward the long-term goal of increasing diversity in the legal community.
Empire Justice Center strongly believes that a diverse work force results in better service to clients and a better work environment for attorneys and staff. We are committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting attorneys who contribute to the overall diversity of the legal community in Rochester.
The summer clerkship is expected to run for no longer than ten weeks in total and will include a $6,650 stipend.
Program Specifics (subject to change):
1. Application: Eligible second year law students are required to submit a formal application, current resume, law school transcripts, a personal statement and the designated writing sample on or before the submission deadline of Thursday October 30, 2014 to [email protected].
2. Interview: Based on the application materials submitted, qualified candidates will be invited to Rochester for an interview conducted by members of the Diversity Clerkship Hiring Committee and various staff attorneys of the organization, on Saturday November 22, 2014.
Students must secure their own transportation to Rochester for the interviews; however, students facing challenges traveling to Rochester should contact Rebecah Corcoran for potential assistance or to discuss alternatives.
3. Selection Process: After the interviews, the Diversity Clerkship Hiring Committee will rank students based on the following criteria (being an agent for social and economic change, commitment to and interest in legal services, writing skills and interview/interpersonal skills) and then will select the student who will be offered the Clerkship, along with alternates.
4. Offers: The selected student will be given three days to accept the initial offer. If the offer is declined, the position will be extended to an alternate until the position is filled.
TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION ON PLEASE VISIT
www.empirejustice.org, Your Career Placement Office or Symplicity.