Author: Kaitlyn Cheng

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AABANY Members and Friends Bring the Energy to Citi Field for Mets Outing

On Tuesday evening, June 23, 2026, 21 AABANY members and guests gathered at Citi Field for our Membership Committee outing to watch the New York Mets. This time, they hosted the Chicago Cubs. It was a fantastic night of baseball, community, and great seats down on the Field Level!

Beyond the action on the field, our group took full advantage of the stadium’s “Five Dollar Tuesdays,” enjoying an endless rotation of $5 hot dogs, beers, sodas, pretzels, and popcorn. The members who arrived early received a free Mets necklace, which was that evening’s giveaway.

The highlight of the evening was seeing a special welcome message to AABANY flash across the giant Citi Field scoreboard for the entire stadium to see! The beautiful summer weather and high-energy atmosphere in the stands made it a truly memorable night out for everyone in attendance.

Thank you to everyone who came out to cheer, eat, and catch up with fellow members. Although the New York Mets lost 9-6 to the Chicago Cubs, it was an exciting game to watch, with Francisco Alvarez driving the first three runs in for the Mets, through a two-run single and a solo homer.

Thanks to the IP Committee for co-hosting this event and Ecoscribe Court Reporters for their sponsorship! Email Cynthia Kaplan cynthia@ecoscribesolutions.com or check out ecoscribesolutions.com if you need Court Reporters, translations, and transcriptions.

Missed the Mets Game? Don’t worry—we are heading to the Bronx next. Join AABANY for our upcoming outing to see the Yankees on August 11, 2026, as they take on the Seattle Mariners! You can register now by clicking here to submit your registration and payment, locking in your spot before seats fill up. You won’t want to miss it!

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2026 NAPABA Convention Scholarship Program Applications Open Now!

Apply for a Scholarship Now!

Attending the 2026 NAPABA Convention is a powerful opportunity to advance your legal career, offering exclusive access to premier programs, industry leaders, and a robust network of legal professionals. We understand that the cost of attending may present a barrier for some. That’s why NAPABA offers a registration scholarship, exclusively for current NAPABA members, to help make participation possible.

The Convention Scholarship Program provides financial support in the form of a registration discount that may be applied toward a full or one-day Convention registration, as well as ticketed events. The scholarship program may not be used for travel reimbursements.

Only active NAPABA members are eligible for Convention scholarships. Join or renew your membership and then apply for the scholarship.

Learn More About Scholarships

General Scholarship

Deadline: July 28 at 8pm ET

Apply for the General Scholarship

Law Student Scholarship

Deadline: September 14 at 8pm ET

Apply for the Law Student Scholarship

Note: You may not apply for more than one Convention scholarship, e.g. law students may not apply for both scholarships.

Questions

View additional resources about the Convention or contact us at convention@napaba.org if you have any questions.

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NAPABA Welcomes the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers Western Chapter (FACL Western) and the Pasifika Attorneys Law Society (PALS)

For Immediate Release:Contact:
July 6, 2026press@napaba.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Continuing to expand its network and strengthen its representation across North America and the Pacific, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) welcomes the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers Western Chapter (FACL Western) as its newest affiliate and the Pasifika Attorneys Law Society (PALS) of Guam as its sixth national associate.

Founded in 2025, FACL Western is a nonprofit organization serving Asian Canadian legal professionals across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. As part of the broader Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers network, FACL Western advances advocacy, mentorship, professional development, and community engagement throughout Western Canada.

“FACL Western is thrilled to become an affiliate of NAPABA. For our members, this affiliation opens the door to a large community of mentors, peers, and leaders, along with the resources and opportunities that come with NAPABA’s network. What excites me most is collaborating with organizations facing similar challenges and learning from their experience while bringing our distinctly Canadian perspective to the table,” said Angad Bedi, President of FACL Western.

Established in 2025, PALS is a national organization dedicated to advancing the professional interests and representation of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander attorneys across the United States and its territories. The organization provides a dedicated professional home and network of peer support for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander legal professionals while promoting advocacy, collaboration, and partnerships with bar associations and community organizations nationwide.

“We share NAPABA’s belief that representation in the legal profession matters—not just symbolically, but structurally. This partnership gives our mission to elevate Pasifika voices a powerful platform, ensuring those once identified as statistically invisible will no longer be overlooked,” said Henry Aho & Puanani Norwood, Co-Founders of PALS.

“We are proud to welcome FACL Western and PALS into the NAPABA community,” said Joseph Yao, President of NAPABA. “FACL Western reflects the continued growth of NAPABA’s presence throughout Canada, strengthening our cross-border community of Asian legal professionals. At the same time, PALS represents an important step forward in deepening representation and engagement for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander attorneys within our national network. Together, these organizations broaden the perspectives, leadership, and advocacy that make our community stronger.”

PALS and FACL Western join a community of over 90 local, state, regional, and national bar associations in the United States and Canada. Individual members of national associates and affiliates are entitled to discounted NAPABA membership and the benefits that accompany it. For more information about how to become a NAPABA national associate or affiliate, please visit our webpage and learn more here about the benefits of becoming a NAPABA member.  

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Apply Now for NAPABA’s Prospective Partners Program

Apply Today and Take the Next Step in Your Career!

The Prospective Partners Program provides strategic mentorship and leadership development for senior associates and of counsel who are on track for partnership consideration within the next 12–18 months. Join a powerful network of senior in-house counsel and law firm partners who are committed to helping you navigate this important career transition with confidence.

  • Dates: November 12–13, 2026, during NAPABA’s Convention in Los Angeles, CA
  • Cohort: Highly selective, limited to 10 participants
  • Program Fee: $400 for NAPABA members | $650 for non-members
Apply For the Prospective Partners Program (PPP)

Not a Member Yet? Join Now & Save Big!

Now is the perfect time to become a member of NAPABA, an organization representing more than 80,000 attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students, along with over 90 affiliated bar associations across the United States, Canada, and U.S. territories. As a powerful convenor, connector, and professional development home, NAPABA advances opportunity, strengthens relationships, and cultivates leadership across the legal profession. NAPABA welcomes everyone committed to advancing the interests of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in the legal profession and beyond to join us as members.

Become a NAPABA member and enjoy savings that go beyond the cost of membership!

Join or Renew Today

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Registration for NAPABA Meet & Greet in Chicago on July 31 Now Open

Chicago, IL | July 31, 2026

The next NAPABA Meet & Greet is coming to Chicago, IL! Join NAPABA for an evening of meaningful networking, connection, and engagement with the NAPABA community.

  • Date: Friday, July 31, 2026
  • Time: 5:00–6:30 P.M. CT
  • Location: Provided after Registration

Registration Rates:

  • Member: $25/per person
  • Non-Member: $50/per person
Register Now

These convenings turn individual efforts into collective impact, helping shape the future of the legal profession. Whether you want to collaborate, share experiences, or simply reconnect with peers, this event is an opportunity to deepen your ties within the NAPABA community.

Please note: Capacity is limited, and registration is required. Walk-up guests will not be permitted, so be sure to secure your spot as soon as possible.

See you in Chicago!

Not yet a member? Join or renew your NAPABA membership today to access exclusive benefits (like discounted Meet & Greet rates) designed to empower your legal career!

Join or Renew Your Membership

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NAPABA Applauds SCOTUS Birthright Citizenship Decision in Trump v. Barbara

For Immediate Release:
June 30, 2026		Contact:
press@napaba.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the fundamental constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship. In Trump v. Barbara, the Court found that Executive Order 14160, which sought to limit the scope of birthright citizenship, did not comply with the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) applauds the Court’s decision. It upheld what NAPABA has emphasized throughout the litigation: a constitutional right that the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community has understood and relied upon for nearly 130 years—ever since a young Chinese American fought for his birthright citizenship in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 U.S. 649 (1898). The Fourteenth Amendment promises every person equal treatment under the law and includes an equal claim of citizenship for persons born in the United States, regardless of the circumstances of their parents. EO 14160 attempted to upend that promise, and we are grateful that the Court invalidated it.

In three federal courts of appeals and in the Supreme Court, NAPABA led a nationwide coalition of its affiliates and national associates to defend birthright citizenship in this litigation. We underscored the significance of Wong Kim Ark, the crucial role of Asian Americans in shaping our nation’s immigration and civil rights jurisprudence, and the disproportionate impacts that EO 14160 would have on AANHPI communities.  NAPABA highlighted how the congressional debates over the Fourteenth Amendment contemplated that the children of Chinese migrants, despite being heavily despised and vilified, would receive birthright citizenship.  Lastly, we maintained that the federal government distorted the holding of Wong Kim Ark and created a faulty legal and historical analogy that Chinese migrants in the late 19th century were akin to today’s lawful permanent residents (i.e., green card holders).

NAPABA is thankful to its legal team for their exemplary work: Rahat N. Babar, who serves as NAPABA’s Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel, Edgar Chen, who serves as NAPABA’s Special Policy Advisor, Chris M. Kwok, who formerly served as co-chair of NAPABA’s Dispute Resolution Committee, and Seyfarth Shaw LLP (Wendy M. Feng, Owen Wolfe, and Lori Chen).

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The ADR Institute Application is Now Open

Don’t Miss Your Opportunity to Advance Your Career!

The ADR Institute is a two-day career and skills development program designed to provide participants with both a broad overview of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and substantive, hands-on training for careers in mediation and arbitration. Led by experts in the mediation and arbitration field, the program seeks to diversify the pool of mediators and arbitrators in the United States and expand the use of ADR among program participants.

  • Dates: November 11–12, 2026, in Los Angeles, CA
  • Cohort Size: Limited to 20–25 participants
  • Program Fee: $500 for NAPABA members | $750 for non-members
Apply for the ADR Institute

Not a Member Yet? Join Now & Save Big!

Now is the perfect time to become a member of NAPABA, an organization representing more than 80,000 attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students, along with over 90 affiliated bar associations across the United States, Canada, and U.S. territories. As a powerful convenor, connector, and professional development home, NAPABA advances opportunity, strengthens relationships, and cultivates leadership across the legal profession. NAPABA welcomes everyone committed to advancing the interests of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in the legal profession and beyond to join us as members.

Become a NAPABA member and enjoy savings that go beyond the cost of membership!

Join or Renew Today

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