Author: Carrey Wong

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Thank You to Our Volunteers at the November Manhattan Pro Bono Clinic

AABANY extends a heartfelt thank you to the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY), Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), and AABANY’s Pro Bono and Community Service, Issues and Immigration Law Committees, as well as all the dedicated volunteers who contributed their time and expertise at the November 19th Pro Bono Clinic held in Manhattan. We were able to make a significant difference in the community by offering essential legal assistance to those in need.

Prior to the Clinic, Vishal Chander (AABANY Board Member and Issues Committee Co-Chair), presented “Immigration Basics for Pro Bono Clinic Lawyers” (Part 1, NTA, Detention & Bond). This valuable training equipped attendees with important practice tips, such as how to assist a pro bono client who receives a Notice to Appear, how to locate a detained individual through immigration enforcement authorities, and how to obtain or request an immigration bond hearing. Vishal’s expertise was further demonstrated as he remained available to help address complex questions related to immigration issues, offering additional support to our community members.

In the training session, Vishal offered an engaging and informative introduction to the complexities of U.S. immigration proceedings, all while reminding us that knowledge can make a powerful difference for vulnerable communities. While he noted that removal defense is not his primary area of practice, his commitment to sharing essential tools spoke to a deeper truth of pro bono work: sometimes, the most meaningful contributions come not from being an expert, but from being willing to show up, learn, and guide others. He emphasized that even being able to recognize a Notice to Appear (NTA) and understanding what it means is often the first step in helping clients regain a sense of control, dignity, and direction in a system that can feel overwhelmingly confusing and intimidating.

His session also brought forward the human side of the law. When he spoke about frantic family members trying to locate loved ones across detention facilities, or clients unknowingly waiving important rights by signing English-only forms under pressure, it became clear that pro bono assistance is not just about legal procedure; it is also about compassion, advocacy, and being present for people at their most vulnerable. Volunteers do not need to solve every legal question to have an impact; even helping a client understand their A-number, guiding them to check the EOIR system, or knowing when to challenge errors in an NTA can prevent irreversible consequences. These small interventions protect not only legal rights, but also hope and humanity.

Vishal reminded us that pro bono work is about restoring access to information, to justice, and to basic fairness. The training reaffirmed that volunteers play a vital role in bridging the gap between complex legal systems and civilians, who are often confused, scared, and navigating language, cultural, and legal barriers all at once. Even a minimal understanding can open the door to critical support, and that is sometimes all it takes to change the course of someone’s life.

After Vishal’s presentation, the regular Pro Bono Clinic took place. At the clinic, our volunteers met with 15 clients and provided guidance on a range of legal issues, including housing questions, fraud concerns, and civil litigation matters. The collective efforts of our volunteers ensured that each client received personalized support and answers to their pressing legal questions.  As one seasoned volunteer shared with AABANY staff, “sometimes it’s not solely about the legal issues, but about being here to listen.”

Here are some of the clients’ comments:

“Very satisfied (with the service), hope to have more of these (events/services) for me! Thanks!”

“Hope to be able to receive help again.”

“Mr. Justin was excellent.”

We are deeply grateful for everyone’s contributions and look forward to continuing this important work together!  

Volunteer attorneys:

Vishal Chander
Gloria D’Souza
Kevin Hsi
Jack (Zixu) Hsia
Justin Lee
Beatrice Leong
Meng (Stella) Li
Arthur Lin
Bich-Nga Nguyen
Jie Shi
Anthony Wong
Carrey Wong
Gary Yeung

Interpreters/shadowers:

Kaleah Haddock
Nandar Win Kerr
Nikita Kohli
Carrie Nie
Shang Zhai
Wendy Zeng

To learn more about AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinics, visit https://probono.aabany.org/.

Please join us at Part 2 of Immigration Basics for Pro Bono Clinic Lawyers: Navigating Immigration Court & Relief and future Pro Bono Clinics on December 3rd. The training will be from 6-6:30pm, followed by the Pro Bono Clinic. It will take place in Queens, at AAFE One Flushing Community Center. This training will continue the series that will prepare lawyers and law students on the fundamentals of advising Pro Bono Clinic clients who are or have family in removal (deportation) proceedings. Part 2 will focus on 1) What to expect in an immigration proceeding and 2) what kinds of relief are available in immigration court. Note: NY CLE Credit Available. Attorneys seeking CLE credits must attend both sessions to earn 1 CLE credit hour. No partial credit is available.

Upcoming Pro Bono Clinics:

  • December 3rd [Queens link here], from 6:30 – 8:30pm, AAFE One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
  • December 17th [Manhattan link here] from 6:30-8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
  • January 10th [Brooklyn link here], from 12:30 – 3:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232

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AABANY and SABANY Co-Host 2025 Fall LGBTQ Reception at A&O Shearman

On Thursday, November 13, 2025, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY)’s LGBTQ Committee and the South Asian Bar Association of New York (SABANY) came together to co-host the 2025 Fall LGBTQ Reception. The event was held at A&O Shearman‘s Manhattan office, bringing together attorneys, law students, and professionals to foster connections within the Asian American, South Asian, and LGBTQ communities.

The evening’s program began with a warm welcome from Dennis Quinio (he/him), Chief Inclusion Officer – Americas at A&O Shearman, who emphasized the crucial need for inclusive spaces within the legal profession.

Attendees then heard from featured speaker Priya Nair (they/them), Executive Director of the NYC Commission on Gender Equity. Priya shared valuable insights drawn from their nearly ten years working in New York City and State government, which included roles in the Governor’s Office, NYC Health + Hospitals, and the State’s first LGBTQ Fellowship. They also offered a personal reflection on their experience as a queer, non-binary individual of mixed heritage, underscoring how events like this are vital for intersectional community building.

AABANY and SABANY extend their sincere gratitude to A&O Shearman for their generous hospitality in hosting the event, and to Priya Nair for their inspiring and insightful remarks.

To learn more about AABANY’s LGBTQ Committee, click here.

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AABANY Members Attend Federal Habeas Training Hosted by Coalition of Immigrant Justice Groups

On Saturday, November 22, 2025, AABANY members attended the 2025 Immigration Justice Conference, a full-day convening dedicated to strengthening legal and community responses to immigration enforcement. The conference was held at the Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center in Washington Heights and organized by a coalition of immigrant justice organizations alongside the Dominican Bar Association.

This year’s conference offered two parallel tracks:

(1) an Attorney Training Track focused on federal habeas corpus litigation, and

(2) a Community & Advocacy Track designed for nonprofits, CBOs, unions, and service providers preparing for rapid-response coordination.

AABANY members participated in the attorney track, which provided in-depth instruction on filing and litigating federal habeas petitions on behalf of non-citizens in immigration custody. Trainers included former Department of Justice officials, offering practitioners firsthand insight into federal court practice, litigation strategy, and recent developments in habeas jurisprudence.

From left to right: Conference organizers Yesenia Mata (Executive Director, La Colmena) and David Satnarine with Vishal Chander (AABANY Board Member and Issues Committee Co-Chair).
From left to right: AABANY members Jack Hsia (Staff Attorney, Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc.) and Vishal Chander (The Chander Law Firm, PC).

Strengthening Immigrant Defense Through Collaboration

The Immigration Justice Conference emphasized collaborative preparedness across legal and community sectors during a time of evolving federal immigration enforcement. AABANY extends its thanks to the organizers—including La Colmena, Afrikana, Mixteca, and partner organizations—for hosting this vital training and for their continued leadership in expanding access to justice for immigrant communities.

For more information about future trainings, the organizing committee can be reached at immjusticeconf2025@gmail.com.

—Written by Vishal Chander, AABANY Board Member and Issues Committee Co-Chair

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AABANY Shows Up in Force at the 2025 NAPABA Convention in Denver

The Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) was a prominent presence at the 37th National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Convention, held at the Sheraton in downtown Denver, CO, from November 6 to 8, 2025. This year’s Convention boasted the second-largest convening in NAPABA history, with nearly 2,900 AANHPI attorneys, judges, law professionals and law students in attendance, including over 800 first-time attendees.

AABANY members presented and led various Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs and were recognized during luncheons and social events throughout the three-day convention.  Over 175 people connected with each other on the AABANY@NAPABA WhatsApp group before, during and after the conference.

AABANY Get-Together at Maggiano’s

AABANY’s well-attended gathering at Maggiano’s Little Italy on Thursday evening was a big hit on one of the first nights of the Convention. The location was conveniently steps away from the Sheraton, drawing over 120 attendees, including friends old and new, many from outside of New York. Guests enjoyed a buffet of heavy hors d’oeuvres, such as domestic and imported cheeses, crostini, ravioli, wagyu meatballs, fried calamari, fried zucchini, and crab cakes, along with drink tickets good for one drink. It proved to be a festive start to the Convention’s social calendar, filled with the spirit of camaraderie that defined the Convention.

Awardees and Recognition for AABANY Members

NAPABA Awards presented across various events, including the NAPABA Best Under 40 Awards Reception (Thursday), Welcome Reception (Thursday), President’s and Trailblazer Award Reception (Friday), and luncheon plenaries (Friday and Saturday).

AABANY members and AABANY past annual dinner honorees were honored this year at the Convention: (click the link to read more about each award and the 2025 awardees):

The 17th Annual Trial Reenactment: “Born American: United States v. Wong Kim Ark”

The AABANY Trial Reenactment Team presented its 17th production on Friday afternoon, November 7, to a capacity audience. The program, titled “Born American: United States v. Wong Kim Ark,” examined the landmark Supreme Court case. The case focused on Wong Kim Ark, born in San Francisco in 1873 to Chinese immigrants, who was denied reentry to the U.S. in 1895 under the Chinese Exclusion Act. Wong successfully argued that the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of birthright citizenship applied to him. The program’s exploration of birthright citizenship was especially relevant, coming shortly after President Trump signed an Executive Order on January 20, 2025, seeking to restrict this established constitutional precedent.

Some of the photos taken from the Trial Reenactments by AABANY can be seen at this link here.

The cast included: Hon. Denny Chin, Kathy Hirata Chin, Jacob Chen, Francis Chin, Anna Mercado Clark, Hon. Peggy Kuo, Clara Ohr, Yasuhiro Saito, Professor Rose Cuison-Villazor, Andy Hahn, Yang Chen, Linda Lin, and Vince Chang. To learn more about AABANY’s Trial Reenactments, go to reenactments.aabany.org. AABANY encourages anyone interested in performing one of our reenactments to make a request through that website. The current script will be made available in 2026.

AABANY Members as Panel Experts

AABANY members showcased their expertise by serving as presenters and panelists across a variety of CLE programs throughout the Convention. Some of the programs featuring current and former AABANY members included, but were not limited to:

Thursday’s Programming:

  • Agentic AI: Legal and Policy Frontiers in the U.S. and China (Benjamin Hsing, AABANY President; Christopher Chan)
  • International Law Committee & Women’s Leadership Network Joint Luncheon (Jennifer Choe-Groves)
  • Navigating First Decade of Legal Career (Dan Brody)
  • Navigating Uncertainty with Confidence (Blossom Kan)

Friday’s Programming:

  • Shark Tank Part III: Live Pitch Coaching (Steve Chung; Hannah Kim; Austin So; Susan Shin, former AABANY President)
  • Navigating AI Integration in Legal Practice (Eric Lin)
  • Trump & Tariffs: Protectionism and Economic Impact (Rudy Figueroa)
  • Sexual Violence Against Women: From the Code of Ur-Nammu to WWII ‘Comfort Women’ and Beyond (Linny Ng) 
  • Practicing with Bots: Training Lawyers in the AI Age (John Lee)
  • Advising Startups on Patent Strategy (Charles Chen) 
  • United States v. Wen Ho Lee – 25 Years Later (Stephen Chahn Lee)
  • AI, Ethics & Minority Rights (Shruti Chopra)
  • High-Stakes Investigations & Trials (Joon Kim)
  • General Counsel Roundtable (Linda Lin, former AABANY President)
  • What We’ve Got Here Is a Failure to Communicate: Pitfalls and Best Practices for Handling Asian Language Witnesses and Evidence (Elizabeth L. Mo)
  • Representing Clients in the Highest Stakes Investigations and Trials (Jennifer Wu, AABANY Board Member)
  • Disagreeing Better: What ADR Principles Can Teach Us on How to Bridge Divides in Polarized Times (Chris M. Kwok, AABANY ADR Committee Co-Chair)
  • Ask an Associate: Navigating Starting Your Career at a Law Firm (Brittany Clark)

Saturday Programming:

  • Originalism’s Impacts & AANHPI Communities (Chihiro Isozaki)
  • Workplace Discrimination and Arbitration (Rachel Lee, AABANY Issues Committee Co-Chair)
  • Birthright Citizenship Under Siege: The Fight for Asian American and Pacific Islander Belonging (Professor Rose Cuison-Villazor)
  • The Places You’ll Go! Careers in Specialized Fields (Ada Wang, AABANY Intellectual Property Co-Chair; Stacy Wu)
  • Birthright and Belonging: Who gets to be American in the 21st Century and Beyond? (Bethany Li)
  • Case Study: Creating a National Legal Organization (NAPABA) (Sandra Yamate)
  • Legal Career Paths: Partnership, In-House & Public Service (Christopher Arcitio)
  • There at the Beginning: Case Study on Creating a National Organization (Diane Yu, retired Chief of Staff and Deputy to the President of NYU, 2011 AABANY Annual Dinner Honoree)

Plenary Session Focus on the Portrait Project

During the Friday Plenary Lunch, discussion centered on the Portrait Project, NAPABA’s groundbreaking study of Asian Americans in the Law, supported by the American Bar Foundation and NAPABA. This research provides critical statistics demonstrating the persistent barriers to advancement and underrepresentation of the Asian American legal community in the profession’s top ranks, especially as diversity and inclusion programs face increasing national pressure. AABANY has been a financial donor to the Portrait Project.

AABANY 2010 Annual Dinner Honoree Sandra Leung, former General Counsel of Bristol Myers Squibb Company, was among the speakers, offering an in-house perspective on the representation of AANHPI attorneys. She spoke about the importance of AANHPI attorneys to be in leadership roles, stating “if you aren’t at the table, you’re on the menu.” That resonated with many attorneys who have felt not involved in the decision-making at one point or another in their careers.

Key findings highlighted by the Portrait Project indicated that while there has been progress in federal judicial appointments and General Counsel roles, underrepresentation at the highest levels persists. The research suggests Asian American attorneys would benefit from greater institutional support to counteract stereotypes, facilitate soft skills development and relationship-building, and increase leadership opportunities. Justice Goodwin Liu reinforced this theme, quoting a participant who stated, “Instead of another cooking class, talk to me about retention.”

AABANY Members Sworn into NAPABA Board

During the Premier Event, the 37th Anniversary Gala on Saturday evening, AABANY members Anushree Bagrodia (Vice President & Senior Managing Counsel, Mastercard), Sapna Palla (Past President; Trial Lawyer and Partner, White & Case LLP), and Vishal Chander (Board Member and Issues Committee Co-Chair; Managing Attorney, The Chander Law Firm, P.C.) were all officially sworn in as At-Large Members of the NAPABA Board.  

AABANY congratulates and thanks Anushree, Sapna and Vishal for their service on the NAPABA Board, along with  Glenn D. Magpantay (AABANY Board Member; Commissioner at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights) for being appointed as a Northeast Alternate Regional Governor for NAPABA.

Gala Keynote

The Gala featured a fireside chat with keynote speakers Katie Phang and Rich Ting. Their conversation spanned Rich Ting’s career transition from attorney to acclaimed actor, and explored the evolving landscape of Asian American representation in Hollywood during polarizing times. Fun fact: Rich Ting has a law degree and was about to start his legal career at a prominent law firm until Hollywood called … and now he no longer has to worry about keeping up his CLE credits.

Social Activities

Beyond the formal events, AABANY members gathered for a variety of social activities, including morning yoga sessions, board game night (organized by our own Jeffrey Mok, Board Director, Issues Committee Co-Chair, and Principal at Fish & Richardson), and karaoke (separate events sponsored by Groombridge Wu and Littler, both long-time sponsors of AABANY), as well as exploring the areas around Denver!

Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition

The national finals for the Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition took place during the NAPABA Convention. Law students from the New York area participated, alongside volunteer judges from AABANY. We congratulate  all participants and the winning team: Audrey La and Josh Shimabukuro from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, who had previously won the regional competition round in New York in October.

A Community and a Family

Despite flight cancellations and delays experienced by many AABANY members on their return home, the spirit of mutual support endured, with members reaching out, sharing resources, and ensuring everyone arrived home safely. This supportive behavior exemplified the core takeaway from the convention: AABANY is more than just a community—it is a family that comes together to uplift and assist one another. 

We look forward to the next NAPABA Convention in Los Angeles, scheduled for November 12-15, 2026 at the JW Marriott L.A. Live.

More photos, shared by various AABANY members, can be found at this album here.

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Church Pension Group Screens “Voices Against Anti-Asian Hate” Documentary

On Thursday, October 30, 2025, the Church Pension Group (CPG) hosted a screening of Voices Against Anti-Asian Hate, a documentary produced by the Anti-Asian Violence Task Force (AAVTF) of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY). CPG is a financial services organization that provides retirement, health, life insurance, and related benefits for its clergy and lay employees.  The screening was held for employees in the New York office, with a virtual option available for staff in the Vermont office.

Following the film, a panel discussion was held, featuring members of the AAVTF: Jennifer H. Wu, Co-Founder and Partner at Groombridge Wu Baughman & Stone; James Lin, a career-long prosecutor retired from the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office; and Chih-wei Wu, Associate at Groombridge Wu. The conversation was moderated by Redd Nuñez, Senior Project Manager at CPG.

Panelists reflected on how they first became involved with fighting anti-Asian hate, what unfolded in their respective experiences, the lessons they learned along the way, and how communities can continue to move forward. Their responses drew from experiences in victim advocacy, civil rights litigation, and criminal prosecution. Jennifer Wu shared how she testified before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in 2023 regarding the federal response to anti-Asian racism. To read more about her testimony, please click here.

Attendees described the event as “meaningful and eye-opening,” noting that “the stories and perspectives truly resonated” and encouraged deeper understanding of anti-Asian hate and pathways toward collective community action.

Special thanks to the Church Pension Group for hosting the documentary screening and to the panelists for their dedicated advocacy in supporting the victims, the AAVTF, and the AAPI community.

If you are interested in hosting a screening and panel discussion, please contact Daphne Mei, Program Manager for AAVTF , at daphne.mei@aabany.org.

— Written by Daphne Mei, Program Manager, AAVTF

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Kwok Kei Ng Honored as Community Leader at 2025 Brooklyn Democratic Gala

AABANY is proud to celebrate Kwok Kei Ng, who was recognized as a Community Leader at the 2025 Brooklyn Democratic Gala on October 30, 2025 for his outstanding dedication to public service and community engagement.

A cornerstone of AABANY’s Pro Bono & Community Service Committee since 2019, Kwok has been instrumental in the success of the Brooklyn Pro Bono Clinic. In his role as Co-Chair, he has cultivated strong, trusting relationships with local community-based organizations and mobilized volunteer attorneys to serve the community. Furthermore, his commitment to justice extends to his service on the board of the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY), where he supports scholarships and community-focused initiatives that help expand access to justice.

Kwok’s career is marked by a deep commitment to the justice system. Beginning as a court interpreter, he now serves as a court attorney and remains a strong advocate for language access within the courts. In addition, as the Deputy Vice President of the High School Division for the Sonia and Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program, he has facilitated summer internships with federal and state judges for over a hundred high school students.

Please join AABANY in offering Kwok our heartfelt congratulations on this well-deserved honor. We always welcome more volunteer attorneys, law students, and interpreters to support our vital efforts. To learn more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, please visit probono.aabany.org.  

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AABANY and AALFNY Connect with Community at AAFE’s Financial Access Resource Fair

On November 1, 2025, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) and the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY) participated as exhibitors at Asian Americans for Equality’s (AAFE) inaugural Financial Access Resource Fair. This event was organized in response to the growing economic pressures affecting local families, businesses, and older adults. Held at the Glow Cultural Center in Flushing, Queens, the fair took place from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

The Financial Access Resource Fair aimed to provide immediate assistance to residents and small business owners facing challenges such as paying rent, affording healthcare, securing food for their families, and sustaining small enterprises. Additionally, the event served as a dynamic platform for local nonprofit organizations to engage with community members, form connections with community partners and elected officials, share valuable resources, and promote collaboration. AABANY and AALFNY’s presence was marked by meaningful engagement and a strong commitment to community empowerment.

Throughout the three-hour event, AABANY and AALFNY welcomed approximately 73 attendees to its table. Gary Yeung, a Co-Chair of AABANY’s Pro Bono & Community Service Committee (PBCS), and Nandar Win Kerr, Treasurer and Consultant to the PBCS, represented the organizations and interacted directly with guests, taking time to understand their needs in providing information and answering questions. The PBCS team ensured that every visitor left with valuable information and a sense of support.

Gary and Nandar, on behalf of AABANY and AALFNY, provided personalized information sessions. Attendees could stop by for one-on-one conversations with the PBCS team to learn about the organizations’ joint free legal clinics in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens, and Legal Referral and Information Service (“LRIS”). These clinics and LRIS offer vital legal assistance to individuals who might otherwise face cultural or language barriers to accessing justice. By detailing the clinics’ services and answering specific questions, Gary and Nandar empowered attendees to make informed decisions about their legal needs.

To further enhance the fair experience, PBCS distributed practical items to attendees. Each visitor received a drawstring bag filled with pens and notebooks—useful tools for everyday life and especially beneficial for those seeking to organize legal documents or take notes during the information session and clinic visits. These giveaways served as both a thoughtful gesture and a tangible reminder of the resources available through AABANY’s free legal clinics.

AABANY and AALFNY’s involvement in AAFE’s Financial Access Resource Fair exemplified the spirit of collaboration and service that defines the nonprofit sector. By engaging personally with 73 attendees, providing informative one-on-one sessions about free legal clinics, and offering practical gifts, AABANY and AALFNY strengthened their relationship with the community and reaffirmed its commitment to making legal support accessible to those who need it most.

We invite you to join AABANY’s upcoming Pro Bono Clinics taking place on: 

November 19th [Manhattan link here] from 6:30-8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002

December 3rd [Queens link here], from 6:30 – 8:30pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355

January 10th [Brooklyn link here], from 12:30 – 3:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232

Big congratulations to AAFE for successfully organizing their inaugural Financial Access Resource Fair! 

— Written by Nandar Win Kerr, AABANY Pro Bono & Community Service Committee

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Immigration Law Committee Co-Chairs Share Compassionate Insights at Fordham University

photos courtesy of FCLC United Student Government

On Thursday, October 16, Fordham College at Lincoln Center’s United Student Government, Asian Pacific American Coalition, and Immigration Advocacy Coalition hosted a panel titled “Immigration Rights & Immigration Law Today.”  The panelists were practicing attorneys from AABANY: Zhixian Liu and Susan Song (Co-Chairs of AABANY’s Immigration Law Committee) and Yen-Yi Anderson (Co-Chair of AABANY’s Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee).  Additionally, two of the three student hosts, Daphne Mei and Juliet Romero, were former AABANY Legal Interns. 

Fifty undergraduate students eagerly listened as the speakers shared their personal journeys into immigration law, each being an immigrant themselves. Anderson, who immigrated from Taiwan, discussed her non-linear career path and how she unexpectedly entered the non-profit sector before transitioning to the field of immigration law. Setting the context for today’s challenges, Song described the increasingly complex environment of practicing law under an administration that aggressively enforces immigration policies. Liu, speaking about the daily life of an immigration attorney, highlighted the importance of prioritizing mental health, especially when working under political conditions that may seem discouraging.

The panelists stressed the importance of client preparedness, highlighting that proactive measures are crucial for individuals facing potential ICE enforcement actions. They recommended that clients secure legal counsel, establish emergency plans, and organize their legal and financial documents to ensure they are ready for any situation. 

The panelists also talked about student safety, especially for individuals  and families who do not have legal permanent status. They emphasized that knowing one’s rights during encounters with authorities is vital, and carrying a readily accessible “Know Your Rights” card can provide valuable information in an emergency.

Lastly, the panelists encouraged permanent residents to leverage their status to support those who are undocumented. They urged these allies to actively engage in community efforts by connecting undocumented persons with legal aid and emergency support networks, fostering a sense of solidarity and assistance within the community.

The session concluded with a lively Q&A where students sought actionable advice on both career preparation and community advocacy. The audience asked the speakers about effective pathways into immigration law, suggestions for volunteer opportunities, and what an undergraduate should know before pursuing a legal career. Students also inquired about how local communities could collaborate with legal professionals to address ICE’s actions during the Trump administration. 

The speakers shared several insightful takeaways. Anderson encouraged students to engage in meaningful volunteer work at AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinic, an invaluable resource that offers free legal assistance and is open to all members of the community. This opportunity not only allows students to gain practical experience but also to make a positive impact in the lives of those affected. Liu passionately emphasized the necessity of confronting political challenges with courage and determination, inspiring aspiring immigration law professionals to pursue their careers without fear.

Students left the panel filled with courage and hope, inspired by the speakers who shared uplifting messages about the vital importance of working in the immigration field today. The event was made even more enjoyable with delicious boba tea, Korean fried chicken, and bulgogi fried rice.

AABANY thanks the Fordham undergraduate student leaders for hosting this timely panel discussion.
–written by Eva Lee,  President of Immigration Advocacy Coalition (IAC), Fordham University

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Intellectual Property Committee and Student Outreach Committee Present “Careers in Intellectual Property” Panel

On the evening of October 17, the AABANY Student Outreach and Intellectual Property Committees presented the Careers in Intellectual Property Panel, held at Wilson Sonini Goodrich & Rosati. The program featured Gregory Pan (Nolan Heimann; Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property Committee) specializing in consumer products and entertainment, Joseph Eng (King & Spalding; Immediate Past President of AABANY) specializing in patent litigation, Jing Wang (Wilson Sonsini) specializing in patent prosecution, and Gina Kim (Zoetis) who shared her in-house patent experience.

All panelists spoke about their career paths into intellectual property and the work they handle day to day. Joseph and Jing, who both have PhDs in Chemistry, talked about their transition into pursuing law. Gregory and Gina shared their experiences working both in-house and in firms. In addition, Gregory and Jing shared their thoughts on the impact of emerging technologies such as AI on intellectual property.

Students not only learned about the wide spectrum of intellectual property work but also gained valuable and practical advice that included important skills worth building as junior level associates and qualities that help candidates stand out in the job process. At the end of the program, all of the panelists shared what they found most rewarding from their work and networked with attendees.

AABANY’s Student Outreach and Intellectual Property Committees extend their gratitude to Wilson Sonsini for the venue, everyone who made this event possible, and to the panelists for sharing their time and experience.

To learn more about AABANY’s Student Outreach 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.

– written by Ariel Zhang, AABANY Student Outreach Committee Vice-Chair

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AABANY Committees Come Together for GCs Uncorked

On September 30, 2025, AABANY hosted a special evening of wine tasting and live music at Saltwater NYC, a cozy coffee shop and wine bar co-owned by Sumeet Chugani, General Counsel at Cloaked. The packed event brought together senior in-house counsel and AABANY members for an intimate and engaging night of conversation and connection.

With curated wine selections and a relaxed ambiance, Saltwater provided the perfect backdrop for an evening of relaxed conversation, shared stories, and new connections among AAPI legal professionals and allies.

Thanks to the co-sponsoring AABANY committees; click to learn more about each one:

Thank you to Sumeet and the Saltwater staff for hosting a memorable and fun night.  We look forward to more events that foster connection within our vibrant community.

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.

– written by Jeffrey Mok, AABANY Intellectual Property Committee Co-Chair and Board Director

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