On April 13, 2023, State Senator Iwen Chu invited AABANY and other community leaders to join a press conference to bring attention to the Fung family, who faced many hardships when their 9-month-old daughter Faye was diagnosed with an inoperable optic-chiasm tumor in her brain when she was only three months old.
The bureaucracy of multiple agencies denied Faye and her family critical support on numerous occasions. However, with the help of AABANY’s Pro Bono and Community Service Committee, the Fung Family was connected with Yen-Yi Anderson whose firm, Anderson & Associates, provided pro bono services to the family and established a trust to help pay for Baby Faye’s medical and other needs.
At the press conference, AABANY Co-VPPO Beatrice Leong, and Board Liaison to the Pro Bono and Community Service Committee, spoke about AABANY’s mission to help the Asian community for the past 34 years, and our monthly pro bono clinics. Various Chinese newspapers were there, including World Journal and Sing Tao.
If you would like to donate to help the Fung Family with Faye’s medical bills please click here.
We thank Anderson & Associates for their pro bono legal services. We also acknowledge Yen-Yi Anderson for volunteering to serve as Co-Chair of the Solo & Small Firm Practice Committee during the 2024 Fiscal Year.
Here is an article in BKReader about the Fung Family and Baby Faye.
Here is an article in the World Journal about the Fung Family and Baby Faye
On March 31, 2023, the Student Outreach and Corporate Law Committees presented the panel: “What Do Corporate Lawyers Do?” at Orrick’s New York office. Moderators Long Dang (litigation associate at Cleary) and Jay Hawlader (law student at Brooklyn Law School) spoke to corporate attorneys Alice Hsu (Capital Markets partner at Orrick), Chris Min (Finance partner at Orrick), Cherry Liu (M&A/PE associate at Paul, Weiss), and Ashley Wong (M&A/PE and Capital Markets associate at Sidley).
In a relaxed setting with pizza and soft drinks, students listened to Alice and Chris speak about building relationships with clients, managing associates, and how they succeeded in becoming partner at their firm. Cherry and Ashley gave advice on how law students should judiciously select practical law classes, how they can ace the law firm interview process, and how to be resourceful, self-starting junior associates.
The panelists also shared what drew them into their respective fields. Ashley, for example, was inspired by purchasing Teavana tea from a Starbucks menu and was then intrigued by high-level transactions that affected consumers. Chris was drawn into her group because she enjoyed the personalities and the work combination.
Students on Zoom and in person listened closely as Alice described her day in a life as a partner and when Cherry gave advice on interviewing with law firms. The event concluded with Q&A and light mingling among the panelists and students.
The AABANY Student Outreach Committee (SOC) hosted a thought-provoking panel discussion on April 13th, 2023 over Zoom, featuring renowned legal scholars Professor Thomas Healy and Professor Jin Hee Lee. The event was moderated by Jinny (Ji Yoon) Lim, a 2L at Seton Hall University School of Law.
Professor Healy, an acclaimed author and expert in constitutional law, legal history, civil rights, freedom of speech, and federal courts, shared his insights on the history of affirmative action and landmark Supreme Court cases, such as Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, Grutter v. Bollinger, Gratz v. Bollinger, and Fisher v. University of Texas.
Professor Jin Hee Lee, the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Legal Defense Fund, provided valuable insights into the legal arguments presented by both SFFA and Harvard/UNC. She also addressed the controversies surrounding the two cases and offered her perspective on the personal rating (PR) scores used by Harvard and the potential consequences of outlawing race-conscious admissions policies.
The panel discussion was a captivating and thought-provoking event, shedding light on vital issues regarding civil rights and constitutional law, which are especially relevant and timely today.
Thanks to the SOC for organizing this topical program and to the speakers for their participation. To learn more about the SOC, click here.
WASHINGTON – Last week, NAPABA submitted written testimony for inclusion in the record before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) in response to its briefing and inquiry on the Federal Government’s Response to Anti-Asian Racism in the United States. As a bar association, NAPABA recognizes that serving the immediate legal needs of hate crimes and hate incident victims addresses only one critical aspect of the problem and that our community cannot prosecute or litigate our way out of this latest wave of anti-Asian hate.
NAPABA’s testimony advocates for a multi-modal response, and has called for legislation to: 1) strengthen law enforcement’s ability to identify, document, and respond to hate crimes, including by fully implementing provisions of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act; 2) address the mental health crisis that has accompanied the surge in anti-Asian hate with culturally and linguistically appropriate resources; and 3) increase educational resources to combat harmful stereotypes in order to address root causes of anti-Asian sentiment.
Over three decades ago, in a report entitled, “Civil Rights Issues Facing Asian Americans in the 1990s,” the USCCR identified a range of contributory factors underlying anti-Asian bias, including: 1) the model minority myth that Asian Americans are successful and do not suffer the discrimination or disadvantages associated with other minority groups; 2) perpetual foreigner syndrome where Asian Americans—even those born and raised in the United States are viewed as non-Americans and foreign; 3) stereotyping Asian Americans as meek and lacking in communications skills; and 4) limited English proficiency (LEP) within the Asian American population. More than 30 years later, these factors continue to persist and several have been cited by NAPABA in its groundbreaking Portrait Project reports as leading barriers to advancement by APA attorneys in the legal profession.
Given how little has changed just in the past 30 years, it is clear that for generations of AAPIs, these barriers are engrained and systemic and only a holistic, multi-pronged approach that includes raising visibility and belonging through education, providing culturally appropriate mental health resources, and increasing language access, in addition to supporting law enforcement, can address anti-Asian sentiment.
WASHINGTON – The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) has named Rahat N. Babar as its new Deputy Executive Director for Policy. In this role, Rahat will lead strategies and programs that will advance NAPABA’s advocacy, civil rights, and policy priorities.
Rahat brings to the position a long-standing commitment to NAPABA and the Asian American and Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander community, and nearly two decades of high-profile public service. Rahat is a former member of NAPABA’s Board of Governors and a former chair of NAPABA’s Civil Rights Committee. He previously served as President of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania and served on the Board of Directors of the Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey. NAPABA recognized Rahat as one of NAPABA’s Best Under 40 in 2018.
Currently, Rahat serves as a Judge on the Superior Court of New Jersey, the first Bangladeshi American to be a member of the court. Immediately prior to his appointment, Rahat was Special Counsel to Governor Philip D. Murphy, overseeing all high-profile litigation impacting the Governor and the Administration. Previously, he was the Director of Community Engagement at the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, where as part of Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal’s Executive Leadership Team, he led the Attorney General’s efforts to strengthen the office’s relationships with community leaders, faith leaders, and the public. Rahat held several other leadership roles within the Attorney General’s Office, practiced in a boutique corporate law firm, and taught law and public policy at Temple University Beasley School of Law as an Adjunct Professor.
“We are so fortunate to have such a legal luminary and NAPABA stalwart lead our policy efforts,” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA. “Rahat is a proven bar leader and policy expert who is uniquely situated to help ensure that our national advocacy vision and civil rights priorities can be carried out across the country by harnessing the passion and collaboration of our members and affiliate bar organizations.”
Rahat will begin his new role with NAPABA in May 2023.
You are cordially invited to NAPABA’s APAHM Congressional Reception
May 22 | 6 – 8 pm ET
In conjunction with NAPABA’s 12th annual Lobby Day and in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), you are invited to join us on May 22 in Washington, DC for our Congressional Reception.
The reception will bring together NAPABA members, Lobby Day participants, members of Congress and their staff, and leaders in the AAPI community from across the country.
What: NAPABA Asian Pacific American Heritage Congressional Reception Where: Kennedy Caucus Room (SR-325), Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC When: Monday, May 22, 6-8pm ET
This is a widely attended event and open to the public. An RSVP is required. The last day to send your RSVP is Friday, May 12!
On March 23rd, 2023, AABANY held its first Indoor Golf Simulation event at Five Iron Golf- Flatiron to provide members an opportunity to learn how to golf. After a successful golf outing in the fall of 2022, the Corporate Law, Membership, and Women’s Committees decided to organize a more casual experience for its members. A golf pro was on-site to teach first time golfers. The evening was filled with lots of laughter, great food, a range of avid golfers to the less experienced, and career advice for its law student members.
WASHINGTON – The Tennessee Asian Pacific American Bar Association (TAPABA) and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) jointly express grave concern for the abrogation of the rule of law and democracy in the wake of the unprecedented expulsion of two legislators, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, from the Tennessee House of Representatives and the attempted expulsion of a third. As non-partisan bar associations, we are dedicated to ensuring representation of Asian Pacific Americans and other marginalized communities in the legal profession—including in the judiciary, legislature, and public sphere—and advancing the civil rights of our members and the communities they serve.
When duly elected representatives are dispossessed of their legislative seats, seemingly without adequate due process, their constituents are disenfranchised, and democracy suffers as a result. Expulsions should be rare, and consistent with longstanding precedent, should only follow criminal conviction or after thorough investigation by committee. We note that in the last 157 years, only two representatives have been expelled after allegations of criminal conduct and internal inquiries. The blatant, disparate treatment, even among the three legislators targeted for ouster, and the lack of due process cannot be ignored. TAPABA and NAPABA call on the Tennessee General Assembly to ensure that thorough, careful, and considered due process is always followed in such matters, and that leaders of the House and Senate be mindful that it is not individual legislators, but Tennessee’s districts, and more importantly, their constituents, who are most harmed when deprived of their representation. Tennesseans deserve better.
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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), represents the interests of over 60,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting APA 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.
The Tennessee Asian Pacific American Bar Association (TAPABA) was created on May 1, 2007, as a state-wide, non-profit association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, law students and those interested in Asian American legal issues. TAPABA is an affiliate of NAPABA.
On April 5, 2023, the IP Committee continued its “Dumplings & Discussion” fireside chat series. This time the committee was honored to have Karen Won, Partner at Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., as the guest. Participants enjoyed pork and chive dumplings, chicken dumplings, Buddha dumplings, and many other items.
Karen was interviewed by the “Dumplings & Discussion” inaugural guest, Andy Yoo (Savvas Learning Company), and discussed her path to becoming a specialist in trademarks including in life sciences trademarks and drug naming matters. Karen shared many interesting facts about how pharmaceuticals are branded. Karen also talked about career development and work-life balance.
After the in-depth discussion and lively Q&A that followed, attendees continued to enjoy more dumplings and discussions with drinks during the networking reception.
Thanks to Fish & Richardson for being such gracious hosts.
Look out for the next IP Committee event. Click here to learn more about the IP Committee.
Chief Judge Margo K. Brodie announced today that the Judges of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York have appointed a Merit Selection Panel composed of attorneys and residents of the district (see Administrative Order No. 2023-12 on the Court’s website). The Panel will consider candidates for an anticipated United States Magistrate Judge vacancy in Brooklyn, New York, for an eight (8)-year term. The vacancy will be created by the anticipated elevation of U.S. Magistrate Judge Ramon E. Reyes to United States District Judge.
All applications for the magistrate judge vacancy must be received by May 5, 2023. The application form can be accessed online at the district’s website. Application forms also may be obtained from the Clerk of Court in the Public Announcements. Please see the public notices below for instructions on how to submit applications for the magistrate judge vacancy.
Within ninety (90) days from its appointment on April 4, 2023, the Panel must report to the Court its recommended slate of candidates for consideration for the Magistrate Judge vacancy.
PUBLIC NOTICE
ONE FULL-TIME FEDERAL MAGISTRATE JUDGE VACANCY
There is one (1) anticipated full-time United States Magistrate Judge vacancy at the Brooklyn Courthouse of the Eastern District of New York at 225 Cadman Plaza, Brooklyn, New York. The duties of the position are demanding and wide-ranging, and will include: (1) conduct of preliminary proceedings in criminal cases; (2) trial and disposition of misdemeanor cases; (3) conduct of various pretrial matters and evidentiary proceedings on delegation from the judges of the district court; (4) trial and disposition of civil cases upon consent of the litigants; and (5) assignment of additional duties not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States.
The jurisdiction of a United States Magistrate Judge is specified in 28 U.S.C. § 636. To be qualified for appointment, an applicant must: (a) be a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands for at least five years; (b) have been engaged in the active practice of law for a period of at least five years (with some substitutions authorized); (c) be competent to perform all the duties of the office, of good moral character, emotionally stable and mature, committed to equal justice under the law, in good health, patient and courteous, and capable of deliberation and decisiveness; (d) be less than 70 years old; and (e) not be related to a judge of the district court. An applicant should have federal court experience and be knowledgeable in federal civil and criminal practices and procedures.
A Merit Selection Panel (appointed by Administrative Order 2023-12) composed of attorneys and residents of the district will review all applications and recommend in confidence to the judges of the district court the five persons whom it considers best qualified for the vacancy. The Court will make the appointment following FBI and IRS investigations of the appointee. An affirmative effort will be made to give due consideration to all qualified candidates, including women and members of minority groups. The salary of the position is, as of this notice, $213,992 per annum. The term of office is eight years.
Please note that the application form can be accessed online at the district’s website. Application forms also may be obtained from the Clerk of Court at 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York 11201. Applications must be personally prepared by potential nominees and must be received no later than May 5, 2023. Applications should be submitted as one PDF file, by email, to NYED [email protected]. Instructions are available on the court’s website.
