Author: Gale Alexander

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2023 Summer Judicial Internship Program – Ninth Judicial District

Each summer, the New York State Court System provides an excellent learning opportunity to students from all over the country through the Judicial Internship Program.

The 2023 Summer Judicial Internship Program for the Ninth Judicial District is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 5th, and last approximately six weeks until July 14th. Interns are expected to work Monday through Friday from 9 to 5. The internship encompasses the entire Ninth Judicial District (Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange, and Dutchess Counties) and selected interns are placed in a location convenient for them. All interns will attend a detailed orientation on June 5th and weekly professional development lectures with guest speakers held in the Westchester County Courthouse in White Plains. The summer internship is unpaid, and interns are responsible for paying parking fees.

The opportunity to intern in a Judge’s chambers provides a student with an insider’s view into the decision-making process and a chance to participate in that important process. Interns’ tasks will include conducting legal research, drafting memos and briefs, preparing decisions, observing court, and assisting chambers staff with the day-to-day operations of their part.

Interested law students and college students who would like to apply to the 2023 Summer Judicial Internship Program, should complete the employment application and email it, along with a cover letter (explaining why you are interested in the program, what areas of law interest you, and what County you prefer to be placed), resume, and official transcript to Stefanie DeNise, Internship Coordinator, at [email protected].

Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, beginning in January. All applications must be received no later than March 31, 2023. Note: the internship program is limited to 50 students.

If you are a law student and an avid writer, and wish to hone those skills over the summer, please note in your cover letter that you would like to be considered for a position with the White Plains satellite office of the Appellate Division, Second Department. Please also include a writing sample with your application materials.

Interns must be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus by the start date of the internship, unless granted a reasonable accommodation due to disability or religion.

The New York State Unified Court System is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy and gender identity or expression), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

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Federal Judicial Internships Available in EDNY, Summer 2023

The Honorable Dora L. Irizarry, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York is accepting applications for Summer 2023 internships.

Qualifications:

  • Must be a rising second or third year law student.
  • Must have good grades.
  • Must have good research, writing, and analytical skills, although
    participation in Law Review or a Journal is not a prerequisite.
  • Military and/or other life/career experience is a plus.
  • Must be vaccinated fully against COVID-19 (including a booster shot).

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, interested law students should forward their application package in PDF format via email to [email protected].


Application package must include:

  • One-page cover letter briefly describing your background, why you are interested in a legal career and why you are interested in an internship with Judge Irizarry specifically.
  •  Resume.
  •  Official law school transcript.
  •  One recent writing sample no longer than 10 pages. Journal or research articles will not be accepted.
  •  Two to three letters of recommendation.

The deadline for receipt of materials is February 3, 2023.

Please note that, while these are not paid internships, the Judge will participate in any appropriate sponsored program that provides academic credit or stipends for interns.

If you have questions, please contact chambers at: 718-613-2150

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AABANY Hosts Annual Holiday Party in Person at Cohen & Gresser

On Friday, December 9, 2022, AABANY hosted its first in-person holiday party in three years since the COVID pandemic shutdown.

Our wonderful hosts and sponsors, Cohen & Gresser, along with their Counsel, Joanna Chan, welcomed over 120 AABANY Members and friends to a delicious menu of food, featuring cocktail shrimp, kimbap rolls, sushi rolls, sashimi, veggie pancakes, japchae noodles, bulgogi beef, marinated pork, Chicken Alfredo with penne pasta, Junior’s mini-cheesecakes, and macaroons. Cocktails with clever names such as “AABANY Founders” and “Ineffective Assistance of Counsel” were also on offer, mixed by professional bartenders.

President-elect Karen Kim welcomed the guests and shared her theme for her fiscal year, starting on April 1, 2023, which will focus on mental health and wellness for attorneys. Co- Vice President of Programs and Operations Beatrice Leong, who organized the holiday party, encouraged donations to support the Pro Bono Clinic through text to pledge. Attendees responded to the call by donating more than $1,000 to the Pro Bono Clinic.

We also held a gift raffle by drawing business cards provided by the guests. All winners of gifts were then entered into a Squid Games style final in which participants had to cut shapes out of cookies without breaking them. The winner of that game got a gift card valued at $50.

We thank our Annual Holiday Party 2022 sponsors:
● Cohen & Gresser
● Littler
● Fish & Richardson
Special thanks to Membership Director Christopher Bae for ordering the food, and former VPPO David Sohn for his help with the party. Thanks to everyone who came. We hope you all had a wonderful time!

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AABANY Academic Committee Hosts Annual Holiday Lunch

The AABANY Academic Committee held its annual Holiday Lunch at Sabai Thai in Manhattan on Monday, December 12. Committee Co-Chairs Elaine Chiu, Catherine Kim, Donna Lee, and Tom Lee were joined by AABANY Board member Francis Chin. They all enjoyed a festive and delicious meal that included Panang Curry, Pad Thai and Pad See Ew.

The conversation ranged far and wide – from the dearth of AAPI judges on the state court bench, to the early closing of KPOP, the Broadway musical, to the pros and cons of multiple choice law school exam questions! They also discussed the American Bar Foundation’s and NAPABA’s 2022 report, “A Portrait of Asian Americans in the Law 2.0,” which finds that “Asian Americans remain underrepresented in clerkships and in leadership positions in law firms, state judiciaries, and other public and private sector arenas.” Luncheon attendees noted that AAPI representation in the legal academy would be an excellent addition to a future Portrait Project 3.0!

Thanks to the Academic Committee for upholding this annual tradition. Learn more about them and how to get more involved with the Committee here.

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AABANY Members Learn about Lawyering at Amex on November 1

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work at American Express? Our members got a glimpse during a visit to Amex’s New York headquarters in November.

On November 1, 2022, Amex and the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) hosted a networking event that provided an inside look into what it’s like working in the General Counsel’s Organization at Amex.

The event commenced with opening remarks by Amex’s Chief Legal Officer Laureen Seeger, who shared some of her most memorable experiences working at the company over the past decade. The event shifted to a panel moderated by Amex’s Deputy General Counsel Sarah Dodds-Brown. The discussion included a diverse group of Amex attorneys who spoke about their unique career journeys and gave tips on how to be a competitive candidate for in-house counsel positions. The panel was followed by a networking session where attendees spoke with Amex attorneys on topics including the company’s hiring process, its unique work culture, and what career development looks like at Amex.

The event was a great opportunity for AABANY members to meet members of Amex’s General Counsel’s Organization and learn about Amex opportunities and its diverse, inclusive and supportive culture.

A special thank you to Amex and the attendees for making the event a huge success!

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NAPABA Applauds the Nomination of Judge Wesley Hsu to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

WASHINGTON – [On Dec. 21, 2022,] President Joe Biden nominated Judge Wesley Hsu to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

“NAPABA applauds the Biden-Harris administration for nominating Judge Wesley Hsu,” said Sandra Leung, president of NAPABA. “Judge Hsu has been an active leader in NAPABA, helping mentor and uplift AAPI attorneys. In 2005, NAPABA recognized him with its Best Lawyers Under 40 for achieving prominence and distinction with his service to the community. His frequent contributions to our community and vast experience in the law make him uniquely qualified. We urge the Senate to swiftly confirm Judge Hsu.”

In 2017, former governor Jerry Brown appointed Judge Hsu to the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Hsu served for 17 years in the Office of the United States Attorney in the Central District of California, notably as the Executive United States Attorney and Deputy United States Attorney. Previously, he worked at a private law firm, and clerked for the Hon. Mariana R. Pfaelzer of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

“We are thrilled that President Biden has continued to honor his promise of a diverse and representative Judiciary,” said Priya Purandare, executive director of NAPABA. “The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California serves over 19 million people, the most populous federal judicial district, which includes a significant population of the AAPI community. Judge Hsu has spent his career, spanning almost three decades, serving in private practice, government, and as a Superior Court Judge in this district. If confirmed, Judge Hsu is well prepared to serve the people of the Central District of California.”

Judge Hsu is active in his community as a Co-Chair of the California Asian Pacific American Judges Association, a member of the Board of Governors for the Asian Pacific American Women Lawyers Alliance, and Founding Member of NAPABA’s Government Enforcement and Compliance Committee and NAPABA’s Data Security and Privacy Committee. A graduate of Yale University and Yale Law School, Judge Hsu has served as an adjunct professor at Loyola Marymount Law School and a writing instructor at the University of Southern California Law School.

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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.

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In the News: President William Ng’s Op-Ed in Support of the Hon. Jeffrey K. Oing Published in the New York Law Journal

On December 15, the New York Law Journal published an op-ed titled, “Jeffrey K. Oing: The Chief Judge All New Yorkers Need Now,” written by President William Ng. The op-ed states in relevant part:

​​A New Yorker with over thirty years of legal and administrative experience, the majority of which has been in public service, Justice Oing stands out as the candidate with the most experience in all three branches of government — judicial, legislative, and executive.

This breadth of experience makes Oing the ideal judge to help make government work better for all New Yorkers.  Indeed, before his illustrious career on the bench, Oing served as Deputy General Counsel to the New York City Council and worked on issues such as re-districting under the Voting Rights Act. 

Earlier in his career, Oing provided legal and policy advice to the New Jersey State Governor and cabinet members on various pending legislation concerning constitutional law, civil justice, consumer affairs and employee relations. 

If Oing is nominated, Hochul will have full confidence that she is selecting an experienced judge who understands well how government works and who has dedicated his professional career to public service and delivering justice.

The op-ed concludes with the statement that New York has never had a judge of Asian American and Pacific Islander descent sitting on its highest court, and Governor Hochul would not only be appointing a highly qualified jurist to serve as Chief Judge, she would also be making history and adding much needed diversity to the state’s highest court.

To read the full op-ed, click here (subscription required).

We expect Gov. Hochul to announce her decision by Dec. 23, and AABANY continues to urge the Governor to nominate Justice Oing to be Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals.

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AABANY Joined by NAPABA and Several New York Bar Associations call on Gov. Hochul to Reject the New York City Bar Association’s Rating of Hon. Jeffrey K. Oing

On December 16, AABANY sent a letter to Governor Hochul calling on her to reject the New York City Bar Association’s “not well qualified” rating of Hon. Jeffrey K. Oing. AABANY was joined on the letter by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and the following New York bar associations:

  • Defense Association of New York
  • Filipino American Lawyers Association of New York
  • Jewish Lawyers Guild
  • Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York
  • New York State Trial Lawyers Association
  • Puerto Rican Bar Association
  • South Asian Bar Association of New York

The letter can be found here.

The Women’s Trial Lawyers Caucus separately sent a letter to the Governor indicating its support for both Justice Oing and the call to reject the “not well qualified rating.”

All signatories were unanimous in calling on the Governor to reject the bizarre outlier rating given by the New York City Bar Association, with reference to the New York Law Journal article (subscription required) from Dec. 14 about the controversial and unusual rating.

AABANY stands by its statement released on December 12 endorsing Justice Oing as the most highly qualified candidate for the Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals and continues to urge the Governor to nominate him as Chief Judge.

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Thank You to Our Dec. 3 Manhattan Pro Bono Clinic Volunteers!

On December 3, 2022, AABANY’s Pro Bono & Community Service (PBCS) Committee partnered with the VNS Health staff to hold a pro bono clinic in VNS Health’s Manhattan community center from 12:00 PM to 3:30 PM.

Overall, we met with 11 clients who had questions about topics such as immigration, housing, and divorce. With help from our many clinic attorneys and volunteers, AABANY’s PBCS attorneys were able to connect clients with AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service, a program that connects prospective clients from the Asian American and Pacific Islander community with qualified lawyers who are both linguistically and culturally competent.

AABANY’s PBCS intern Connor Li spoke about his experiences at Saturday’s clinic with great reverence for the work PBCS is able to do through these clinics. He said, “It’s always a pleasure to help out at the clinic. Whether it’s meeting members of the community or listening to experienced legal professionals, I always feel like I’m learning something at every point. And with the help of the amazing VNS staff, clients with urgent needs for legal advice regarding housing, immigration, and familial issues were checked in and assigned to attorneys with great expediency. We were even able to provide Cantonese and Mandarin interpreters at nearly every client meeting, though we could definitely have used the assistance of more Cantonese interpreters. I would definitely encourage more AABANY members or willing individuals from the general public who know Cantonese to come to these clinics. Your help would be appreciated!”

As with every clinic, free lunch was provided for all attorney and non-attorney volunteers by PBCS. We thank all 11 of our volunteers for coming to provide their invaluable assistance! As always, if you have any questions about upcoming clinics, please contact us at [email protected]. Thanks again for attending, and happy holidays!

Volunteer AttorneysInterpreters & Observers
Beatrice LeongAlexander Hwang
Francis ChinConnor Li
Grace PyunXiaoli Qin
Jackson ChinYuichi Hayashi
Jayashree MitraYuting Xie
May Wong 

Please make plans to join us as a volunteer at the next Manhattan Pro Bono Clinic on January 14, or please help us spread the word. More details here.

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2023 Summer Internships Available

The NAPABA Judicial Council announces
three summer internship opportunities

You are invited to apply for a 2023 NAPABA Judicial Council-sponsored internship, which includes a $1,000 scholarship stipend. In your application, you may indicate whether you wish to be considered for one or more of the internships with the following Judicial Council members:

Judge Edmond E. Chang
U.S. District Court
Northern District of Illinois
Judge Lucy Koh
U.S. Court of Appeal
Ninth Circuit
Justice Carla Wong McMillian
Supreme Court of Georgia

Each full-time internship will last approximately 8-10 weeks, with precise details to be arranged between the selected intern and assigned judge or justice, including whether conducted in-person, remotely, or as a combination of both.

The application deadline is January 15, 2023.

To apply, please email a single PDF file to [email protected] with the subject line “Application for NAPABA Judicial Council Internship”:

  1. Cover Letter (indicating which internship(s) you wish to be considered for, discussing your interest in the internship(s), and providing names and contact information for up to three references)
  2. Resume
  3. Writing Sample (10-15 pages)
  4. Law School Transcript (may be sent separately as grades become available)

If you have any questions about the internship or application process, please feel free to contact Curtis A. Kin, President, NAPABA Judicial Council.

NAPABA | 1612 K St. NW, Suite 300 | Washington, DC 20006 | www.napaba.org
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