Official blog of the Asian American Bar Association of New York
The Criminal Justice Act Committee of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is accepting applications for service on the Court’s Criminal Justice Act Panel. Criminal Justice Act Panel Members represent indigent criminal defendants and petitioners for habeas corpus.
The deadline for applications is 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 8, 2019.
To see the full announcement and learn more, click here.
For the application form, click here.
February’s Monthly Pro Bono Clinic, held on Wednesday, February 13 at 33 Bowery Street in Confucius Plaza, brought out 14 lawyers and 6 interpreters who volunteered their time to help 27 clients.
We are asking every member to actively support AABANY’s Monthly Pro Bono Clinic by making donations that are vital to its continuing operation. In a few short years, with the tireless and generous assistance of our volunteers, we have helped hundreds of low-income clients with free legal advice and referrals to high-quality, culturally sensitive, and linguistically competent legal services. Together we have helped expand access to justice for underserved Asian American New Yorkers.
If you know family members, friends, or businesses, such as your firm, who would like to support the Clinic, please help us connect with them by contacting Karen Yau at [email protected].
Or please urge them to make a donation directly. They can visit the website of Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY), AABANY’s 501(c)(3) affiliate: https://www.asianamericanlawfund.org/donate/ AALFNY is accepting charitable donations on the Clinic’s behalf and can issue any donor a tax receipt. Any contribution, large or small, would help. Please be sure to indicate in the memo field that the donation is intended for the Pro Bono Clinic.
Thank you to all of the February Pro Bono Clinic Volunteers!
Lawyers:
Interpreters:
Special thanks to Johnny Thach for coordinating the clinic, and the Pro Bono and Community Service Committee Co-Chairs Karen Kithan Yau, Ming Chu Lee, and Asako Aiba for their leadership.
If you are interested in volunteering at next month’s Pro Bono Clinic on March 13, please contact Asako Aiba at [email protected]. AABANY’s Monthly Pro Bono Clinic occurs every second Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.
On February 7, 2019, the Women’s Committee held another successful brown bag lunch, this time featuring Joyce Lai from ConsenSys. Members learned about blockchain technology and alternative organizational structures, and were also able to share their own experiences working at law firms, transitioning into the tech industry, and balancing family and work. The Women’s Committee thanks Joyce for taking the time to share her experience with us and BakerHostetler for hosting!
The Women’s Committee Brown Bag Lunches feature prominent Asian American women in the law. Through these lunches we aim to create an intimate space that allows for open dialogue on real issues that Asian American women face in the legal community. Please feel free to reach out to the committee chairs with any ideas for potential hosts. To learn more about the Women’s Committee go to https://www.aabany.org/page/122
On Wednesday, February 13, 2019, AABANY held its Annual Meeting of Members at Wachtell Lipton. President James R. Cho called the meeting to order and established quorum. Elections were held for the 2019 Board of Officers & Directors and President James R. Cho presented the Year in Review. President James R. Cho also announced a new initiative to help AABANY law students find summer internship positions.
Executive Director, Yang Chen, presented the report of the Committees and then presented awards honoring several members and committees for their dedication to AABANY over the past year. Immediate Past President Dwight Yoo and President-Elect Brian Song tallied the votes.
The following officers were elected and will begin their term on April 1, 2019:
Sapna Palla
President-Elect
Tiffany Miao
Vice President, Programs and Operations
David Sohn
Vice President, Programs and Operations
Margaret Ling
Development Director
William Hao
Treasurer
Secretary – Vacant
Beatrice Leong
Membership Director
The following candidates were elected as Directors to serve two-year terms starting on April 1, 2019:
Dai Wai Chin Feman
Suzanne Kim
Chris Kwok
Edward Lee
Marianne Chow Newman
Terrence Shen
Andy Yoo
The following awards were presented:
Committee of the Year: The In-House Counsel Committee
For their excellent programming and activities that have benefited AABANY’s members and the community of legal professionals in New York.
Program of the Year: The AABANY Leadership Development Program
For helping to develop future leaders and contributing to the promotion of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession in New York.
Member of the Year: Edwin Kim
For his exemplary record of service and leadership as Co-Chair of the Student Outreach Committee and Labor and Employment Law Committee and in coordinating volunteers for numerous programs and events.
Congratulations to all the officers and directors who were elected to the Board.
Congratulations to all the honorees for the recognition of their achievements and hard work in 2018.
We would like to thank our members for attending and participating in the annual meeting, and we also thank Edward J. Lee and Wachtell Lipton for hosting the meeting in a beautiful space, treating us to a delectable selection of food and light refreshments.
(Thanks to AABANY Program Associate Dave Singh for the write-up and photos.)
