Author: Apollo Baltazar

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Spring 2026 Legal Internship for Law Students with the New York Unified Court System

Legal internships in the New York State Courts are programs for law students to gain experience in public service. Interns research and analyze legal issues and are responsible for drafting orders, proofreading opinions, verifying citations, preparing jury charges, and verdict forms. The internship program provides hands-on experience, professional development, and opportunities to work on projects that promote access to justice. Legal Interns, appointed in the Civil Term by Justices of the Supreme Court, are assigned to Judges designated as Acting Supreme Court Justices. This internship position is assigned to Hon. Mary Lynn Nicolas-Brewster, Supreme Court Justice in Bronx County Supreme Court – Civil Term.

This is an unpaid, in-person, eight-week legal internship program for law students interested in becoming a judge or public interest attorney. Interns are expected to participate for 12 hours weekly. Legal interns will receive rare opportunities to develop legal research, oral advocacy, and writing skills. Additional features of the program include weekly lunch-and-learn sessions with attorneys and judges across practice areas, individualized mentorship, and practical advice for law school success. The Internship program is designed to be a pipeline program for law students interested in careers in the courts and public service. 

The in-person legal internship will be hosted from February 16, 2026, through April 10, 2026 (internship location – Bronx Supreme Court – Civil Term, 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, New York). The application deadline is January 9, 2026.  

Interested students should email: BXSUPCIV-IA11@NYCOURTS.GOV.

  • The subject line should be “Legal Internship – Spring 2026″  
  • You must include the following documents as one attachment: 
    • A cover letter addressed to Hon. Mary Lynn Nicolas-Brewster, Acting Supreme Court Justice, Bronx  Supreme Court, Civil Term.
    • Please highlight previous public service work or work involving equal justice issues.
  • Your resume.
  •  A writing sample – please respond to the essay prompt below:  
    • ESSAY PROMPT: In this personal injury action involving a motor vehicle accident, Plaintiff has failed  to provide responses to discovery demands and Defendant ABC Holding has moved for an order  dismissing the action in accordance with the Court’s prior April 10, 2025 order. That self-executing  order granted dismissal of Plaintiff’s complaint unless within sixty (60) days of the order, Plaintiff  provided responses to Defendant ABC Holding’s discovery demands. The Court directed dismissal of  Plaintiff’s complaint, pursuant to CPLR 3126, if there was a failure to comply with its Order. Plaintiff  failed to provide the discovery contemplated by the April 10, 2025 order and Defendant ABC Holding  has now moved to dismiss the complaint based on Plaintiff’s failure to comply with this Court’s self executing order of dismissal issued on April 10, 2025. Please draft the analysis and  conclusion/determination section of the proposed decision and order (please limit to 500 words  or less). Please limit your research to First Department case law. 

We look forward to your participation.

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AABANY’s Young Lawyers and Intellectual Property Committees Host Escape Room Social

On Saturday, November 1, 2025, AABANY’s Young Lawyers Committee and Intellectual Property Committee co-hosted an Escape the Room Social at Escape the Room NYC.

Attendees put their analytical and problem-solving skills to the test in a race against time. Divided into two themed rooms—The Agency and Jurassic Escape—participants faced unique missions that challenged their teamwork and creativity.

In The Agency, teams collaborated to decipher codes, analyze maps, and assist James Bond in completing his mission before his cover was blown. Meanwhile, in Jurassic Escape, participants raced against the clock to outsmart prehistoric predators, shut down an evil corporation, and make their daring escape to safety.

We thank all attendees for taking time out of their Halloweekend to join us for this fun and challenging adventure. Special thanks to Young Lawyers Committee Co-Vice Chair Cecilia Yang for planning and executing this successful event!

To learn more about AABANY’s Young Lawyers Committee, click here. To learn more about AABANY’s Intellectual Property Committee, click here. To find out about upcoming events like this, please visit the calendar on AABANY’s website.

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AABANY Committees Present Pickleball Night, Co-Sponsored by Citizens Bank

On October 16, 2025, AABANY’s Corporate Law Committee, In-House Counsel Committee, Mentorship Committee, and Government Service and Public Interest Committee, in collaboration with Citizens Private Bank, held Pickleball Night at Gotham Pickle (5-25 46th Ave., Long Island City, New York 11101). The event brought together professionals and AABANY members for an evening of networking, community building, and fun competition and conversation.

The event welcomed both seasoned players and first-time pickleball enthusiasts, creating an inclusive atmosphere where attendees learned together and competed in friendly matches. The event provided a unique opportunity for members to connect outside the traditional professional setting, while enjoying one of the fastest-growing sports in the country.

Brandon Martinez from Gotham Pickle coached our group and taught us about the no-volley zone or the “kitchen,” serving in doubles, the two-bounce rule, keeping score, and best practices and strategy to win a rally.

Throughout the evening, the players rotated between courts and teams to allow for a mix of playing experience and so that people were able to meet new people, helping to foster meaningful connections among peers from diverse practice areas and career stages. Each game went to 11, and the players with the most wins reached the finals.

Huge congratulations to Alysha Naik and Don Liu for reaching the finals and winning the prizes!

Special thanks to Citizens Private Bank for their support! Citizens Private Banking offers a personal, relationship-driven approach to managing wealth. Every client is paired with a dedicated relationship manager who takes the time to understand their goals, priorities, and financial vision.

Private Banking clients benefit from:

  • Dedicated Relationship Managers who provide proactive, one-on-one guidance.
  • Custom Lending Solutions for real estate, investments, and liquidity needs.
  • Comprehensive Wealth Strategies, in partnership with our investment and planning specialists.
  • Priority Service and Access to exclusive products and premium benefits.

With Citizens, private banking isn’t just about managing assets – it’s about building a trusted partnership that grows with each client over time.

To learn more, connect with Steve Shin, Private Banker (steve.shin@citizensprivatebank.com).

Additional thanks to Rokstar Chicken for catering from their location at 42-02 Northern Blvd., Long Island City, NY 11101 (in front of Food Bazaar Supermarket).

To learn more about the Corporate Law Committee, click here. To learn more about the In-House Counsel Committee, click here. To learn more about the Mentorship Committee, click here. To learn more about the Government Service and Public Interest Committee, click here. To stay informed about all upcoming events hosted by these committees, as well as other exciting AABANY events, we encourage you to visit the calendar on AABANY’s website for the latest information.

If you aren’t an AABANY member yet – consider joining!  AABANY membership allows you access to many more events like this one, and also free or discounted admission. Please see this page to learn more about member benefits, and sign up on AABANY’s website.

Thank you to everyone for joining us at the Pickleball Night. We hope to see you again at a future event soon.

Written by Johnny Thach, Co-Chair, Government Service and Public Interest Committee.

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Syracuse Law APALSA Hosts Fireside Chat with Hon. Lillian Wan

On Aug. 20 Syracuse Law APALSA hosted a fireside chat with Justice Lillian Wan (NY Appellate Division, Second Department).  Assistant Dean Lily Yan Hughes, a 2025 NAPABA Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Recipient, introduced Justice Wan.  Then APALSA President Rebecca Lee moderated the chat. The in-person and on-line audience was enthralled by Justice Wan’s stories of how she learned to embrace her Asian American heritage, found her calling in law, and then after another judge mentored her, finally saw that she could become a judge.   

Justice Wan’s mission is now to demystify the pathway to the judiciary.  It was a fabulous evening bringing together the public and legal community.  Thank you to AABANY’s co-sponsorship, along with Syracuse Law Office of Career Services, Syracuse University (SU) AAPI Faculty & Staff Association, Maxwell Executive Education, Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) SU Student Chapter,  SU Family Law Society, New Americans Forum, SU Asian/Asian American Studies Program, and Asian Pacific American Public Affairs (APAPA) Syracuse Chapter.

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NAPABA and MNAPABA Condemn Attacks on Minnesota Lawmaker

For Immediate Release:
Date: June 15, 2025		Contact
Rahat N. Babar, Deputy Executive Director

WASHINGTON – In the early morning hours of Saturday, June 14, an armed perpetrator shot two Minnesota state legislators and their respective spouses in the suburbs outside of Minneapolis.  State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, died. State Senator John A. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, survived and sustained injuries from the attack. The Governor of Minnesota called the events “an act of targeted political violence.”

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and the Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association (MNAPABA) unequivocally condemn these horrific attacks. We send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the victims, along with the people of Minnesota.

Our democracy must not tolerate acts of political violence. They are antithetical to the core values of our community and our Nation. The rule of law demands the peaceful resolution of our differences, whether it be through our institutions like the courts or at the ballot box. Despite the intensity of our public discourse, we cannot forget our common humanity.

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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.

The Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association (MNAPABA) is a community of Minnesota Asian Pacific American and Asian lawyers that supports one another, celebrates each others’ accomplishments, creates opportunities for dialogue on issues of importance to APAs, and highlights APA issues to the legal community at large. MNAPABA (formerly NAPABA-MN) is an affiliate of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).

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2025 NAPABA Lobby Day

NAPABA hosted its annual Lobby Day on May 20-21, 2025, bringing together members of our community from across the country to Washington, DC. During meetings with Congressional representatives, attorneys, law students, and community leaders advocated for supporting the AANHPI community, advancing a fair and humane immigration system, defending the rule of law and legal profession, and advancing democracy and civil rights.

60+ Meetings20+ States Represented (plus the
District of Columbia and Guam)

Highlights of Our Lobby Day Include:

Robust Representation
With our participants hailing from over 20 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam taking part in over 60 meetings with congressional offices on both sides of the aisle, NAPABA demonstrated its strength and its commitment to amplifying AANHPI voices in the halls of power.

Advocacy Training
Prior to the meetings, we organized targeted training sessions to equip our participants with the necessary tools and strategies to effectively communicate our policy priorities.

Policy Priorities
Throughout our meetings, we tackled issues critical to the AANHPI community. We advocated for language access protections, opposed discriminatory measures like anti-Asian alien land laws, and supported teaching AANHPI history in schools, including recognizing the legacy of Fred Korematsu. We backed voting rights legislation, LGBTQ+ rights, and funding for legal services. We called for the protections of judges, the right to counsel in immigration settings, and supporting asylum seekers.

Our priorities during Lobby Day reflected the day-to-day policy developments impacting the AANHPI community. Most recently, on May 28, the federal government announced that it would “aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students.” During Lobby Day, we opposed legislation that would impose an outright ban on the issuance of student visas to any citizen of China. Such policies are a relic of history and harken to the 1800s when our communities endured discriminatory laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act. They were wrong then, and they remain wrong today.

Meaningful Engagements
We met with numerous lawmakers and their staff, fostering meaningful dialogues, and building relationships that will be instrumental in advancing our policy objectives. Our Lobby Day participants skillfully articulated our positions, presented compelling arguments, and shared personal stories to humanize the issues that we face. On the evening before our training at our Congressional Reception on Capitol Hill, our participants heard from leaders directly, including Sen. Mazie Hirono (HI), Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36), and Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06). Our participants also heard from Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) during the debrief session.

Regardless of the political dynamics in the Nation’s capital, NAPABA demonstrated its power during Lobby Day. Our members fanned out on the Capitol grounds, engaged with key Congressional offices, and called for their elected representatives to support policies that advance our communities. We are the national voice of the AANHPI legal community, and we stand for the rule of law. Learn more about NAPABA’s advocacy at napaba.org/page/advocacy.

Visit Our Advocacy Page
Visit Our Organizational Statements

Thank You to Our Host

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NAPABA Mourns the Passing of Justice David H. Souter

For Immediate Release
Date: May 9, 2025		Contact
Rahat N. Babar, Deputy Executive Director

WASHINGTON – The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Justice David H. Souter, who passed away yesterday. Justice Souter served on the Supreme Court of the United States for 19 years.

“Justice Souter’s devotion to public service defined his life,” said NAPABA President Thy Bui. “From a small law firm in Concord, New Hampshire, to the highest court in the land, he left an indelible mark on the Nation’s jurisprudence. On behalf of the entire NAPABA community, we celebrate his legacy and send our condolences to his loved ones.”

Justice Souter graduated from Harvard College, studied as a Rhodes Scholar, and graduated from Harvard Law School. After practicing at the firm of Orr and Reno, Justice Souter joined the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, ultimately rising to become the New Hampshire Attorney General in 1976. Two years later, the governor of New Hampshire appointed Justice Souter to the state trial court bench. In 1983, Justice Souter joined the New Hampshire Supreme Court, and in 1990, President George H.W. Bush nominated him to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. The U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination unanimously. Only two months later, President Bush nominated Justice Souter to the U.S. Supreme Court, and the U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination by a vote of 90 to 9. Justice Souter retired from the Court in 2009.

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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 nearly 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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Intellectual Property Committee Unwinds with Board Game Night

On March 7, the IP Committee of AABANY hosted a fun and relaxing Board Game Night, inviting members and friends from a variety of backgrounds to unwind, connect, and engage in some friendly competition.

Whether you were a seasoned board game enthusiast or a casual player, there was something for everyone. The night featured a variety of games, including classics such as Taboo and Monopoly, as well as some fresh games that were new to attendees.  The casual, fun atmosphere made it easy for everyone to jump right in, regardless of their level of experience with board games.  Attendees also enjoyed a spread of dumplings, noodles, and other food and drinks. 

A big thank you to everyone who attended for some good fun and conversation, and for making this event such a success!

If you missed out this time, don’t worry—keep an eye on our upcoming events as we continue our goal of building a strong and supportive community.  We hope to see you next time!

Thanks to IP Committee Co-Chair Jeff Mok for organizing the event, and his firm Fish & Richardson for hosting. To learn more about the IP Committee and how you can get involved, go here.

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Enter the Our History Our Voice Video Contest

Submit Entries By March 31, 2025

NAPABA is pleased to announce the “Our History, Our Voice” Video Contest for Middle and High School Students across the United States.

This is a joint project of the Center on Asian Americans and the Law at Fordham Law School, the AAPI Crime Victims and Education Fund, and NAPABA. It seeks to engage young Americans with Asian American history told through certain little-known court cases. We want to challenge young people across the country to learn about the cases and retell them through short videos.

For too long, Asian Americans have been treated as foreigners in a country where we have lived and contributed for hundreds of years. Asian Americans have often been denied basic civil rights based on racial background alone. Most recently, during the pandemic, Asian Americans across the country were victimized as a result of being blamed for a disease associated with China. This perception of foreignness has lingered throughout U.S. history and has resulted in Asian Americans being treated as less than full-fledged citizens of our own country. This contest seeks to surface our community’s hidden history and to highlight the historical civil rights struggle of Asian Americans.

We encourage your children to participate. Please share the link for the contest landing page broadly to all of your circles, most especially those involving middle and high school-aged children. Our stories need to be told, and then passed along and retold, most especially by young people.

Enter Here

ELIGIBILITY

  • Participants need to be between the ages of 13 and 18 and currently enrolled in middle school or high school.
  • There is a limit of one (1) entry per person, per case.
  • Submit by: March 31, 11:59 PM EST

AWARDS

  • One Grand Prize of $5,000
  • 3 Finalists will be awarded $1,000 per Finalist.

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Congratulations and Thanks to Justice Jeffrey K. Oing

On December 17, the Jewish Lawyers Guild held their annual Chanukah Party in the Rotunda of the New York State Supreme Court on 60 Centre Street. The festivities began at 6 pm, well after the courthouse closed for regular business and judicial proceedings. The atmosphere was lively as a large crowd gathered not just to celebrate Chanukah but also to honor Justice Jeffrey K. Oing of the Appellate Division, First Department on his retirement at the end of the year. Justice Oing has served on the Board of Governors of the Jewish Lawyers Guild and was a past recipient of the Guild’s Golda Meir Award.

AABANY was a proud co-sponsor of this event and among the AABANY leaders and members in attendance were President Joseph Eng, Jr., Membership Director Alysha Naik, and Executive Director Yang Chen. Former Presidents Vince Chang and P.C. Cheng also came out for the celebration. Among the AAPI judges at the event were Hon. Lillian Wan, Hon. Margaret Chan, Hon. Shahabuddeen Ally, Hon. Christopher Chin, Hon. Austin D’Souza and Hon. Judy Kim.

Many past and current leaders of the Jewish Lawyers Guild took turns at the podium to praise and congratulate Justice Oing for his time on the bench and his service to the bar and the community. One of the speakers was Hon. Michael Katz, who served alongside Justice Oing when they were both court attorneys earlier in their careers. “When I prepared my remarks for this evening, I was going to roast Justice Oing,” he began. “But I soon realized that it would be a futile effort. Justice Oing isn’t ‘roastable.’ There is just no unkind thing that can be said of him … even in jest.” Justice Katz’s sentiments reflected what all the judges and attorneys before and after him thought about Justice Oing: He is a beloved jurist, attorney, and human being, who has earned the respect and admiration of those who have had the privilege to know him and serve with him.

AABANY thanks the Jewish Lawyers Guild for throwing a great holiday party. We are especially grateful that they honored Justice Oing on the occasion of his retirement, and they certainly did it in style, with a large crowd, copious amounts of delicious food, and a grand setting.

Please join AABANY in congratulating Justice Oing on his retirement and thanking him for his trailblazing legal and judicial career. Knowing Justice Oing, we do not expect that he will be sitting on his laurels for long and look forward to hearing about what is in store for the next chapter in his journey.

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