Author: Kevin Louie

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Columbia Law School’s Paralegal Pathways Initiative: Applications Now Open for Spring 2025

The Paralegal Pathways Initiative (PPI) at Columbia Law School is a 12-week training program designed to support formerly incarcerated individuals as they transition into meaningful careers within the legal field. Through skills-based legal training and professional mentorship, PPI empowers participants to develop valuable career and interview skills. Applications are now open for the upcoming Spring 2025 class, and PPI wants to extend this opportunity to as many potential applicants as possible.

Application Requirements: Interested individuals should submit an application online through this link. The application package includes:

  • Resume 
  • Personal statement (500 words)
  • Response to a writing prompt (350-450 words) 
  • Two references 
  • [Optional] Additional materials/information

PPI encourages applications from individuals from marginalized communities, including those based on race, sexual orientation, religion, age, gender, or disability.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • 18 years old or older
  • Ability to commute to New York City
  • Have been formerly incarcerated and at least one year post-release
  • Demonstrate a genuine interest in the legal field
  • Commit to attending an in-person two-hour class one night a week for 12 weeks, and additional programming and workshops
  • Commit to contributing to a collaborative learning environment
  • Complete an interview

Application Deadline: Friday, November 15, 2024 

Contact Information: For more information, contact the PPI team at [email protected] or follow @paralegalpathways_cls on Instagram. Please share this information with anyone who may be interested in applying.

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NAPABA Congratulates President-Elect Trump and Vice President-Elect Vance

WASHINGTON – As reported by the Associated Press, Donald J. Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, have earned a sufficient number of electoral votes to be the next President and Vice President of the United States. NAPABA congratulates them and is committed to working with the new administration and Congress to advance the interests of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community.

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization representing the interests of well over 80,000 AANHPI legal professionals. Our community is diverse, spanning across cultures, language, and political ideologies. NAPABA has worked diligently with presidents, administrations, and congressional members of both parties to advance the interests of our community.

As an organization of legal professionals, we bear a special responsibility to uphold the rule of law. NAPABA will continue to advance justice, with the AANHPI community at the forefront along with all communities of color, our values, and our policy positions. We must partner together, despite our political differences, for our country to achieve progress.

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AABANY Dumplings & Discussion Series Features David S. Sohn

On October 15, AABANY held the 5th installment of its Dumpling & Discussion Series.  The series brings notable AAPI leaders in the legal industry, with a fireside chat in a casual, intimate setting.  

We were honored to have David S. Sohn as our featured guest.  David is Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at JPMorgan Chase & Co.  David is also a current co-chair of AABANY’s In-House Committee, and formerly an AABANY Director and Vice-President of Programs & Operations, among other leadership positions at AABANY. 

Jeffrey Mok, current co-Vice-President of Programs & Operations, hosted the discussion.  David shared candid thoughts about his career journey, including his path to law school and his transition between different industries.  David also shared his insights on leadership and offered tips for lawyers who are early in their careers.

Attendees enjoyed a wide selection of delicious dumplings and other Chinese food. 

A lively reception followed the discussion with David, and attendees made new connections with each other over food and drinks.

Check the AABANY calendar for future editions of the Dumplings & Discussion Series.

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ANNOUNCEMENT: Spring 2025 Federal Judicial Internships Available with Honorable Dora L. Irizarry, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York

The Honorable Dora L. Irizarry, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York, is accepting applications for Spring 2025 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). 

Interested law students should forward their application package in PDF format as a single document via email to [email protected].

Application package must include:

• One-page cover letter briefly describing 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, double spaced. Journal or research articles will not be accepted.  

• Two to three letters of recommendation. 

The deadline for receipt of materials is November 25, 2024. 

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.  

Questions? Feel free to reach out to Judge Irizarry’s chambers at 718-613-2150.

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A Final Call to Action: Amplify Your Voice in This Critical Election Season

With only a week remaining in this high-stakes election season, now is the time to ensure our communities are heard and empowered. The NAPABA Policy Team is sharing the following source to support you in making a lasting impact in these final days.

Join the APIAVote multilingual hotline initiative as a volunteer! NAPABA has partnered with Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) to offer our AANHPI communities a hotline providing vital voter information in multiple languages. This is a non-partisan, multilingual informational hotline designed to help members of our community find polling places, understand how to register to vote, and ensure they have timely and factual information needed to get to the polls.

APIAVote needs persons fluent in Bengali/Bangla, Cantonese, Hindi, Punjabi, Tagalog, Urdu and has a specific urgent need for persons fluent in Korean, Mandarin, and Vietnamese!

Here is what you can expect as a volunteer:

  • Provide live, remote assistance from Monday, October 7th leading up to Election Day on Tuesday, November 5th! 
  • Return calls to voters who left voicemails asking for voter assistance  
  • Be supported every step of the way by the co-captains of APIA Vote’s Hotline: Jean Ger, Zaria Guignard, Mike Messina, Hannah Locop, and Yu Jing Chen  
  • Hotline captains will be online and available to assist every day 
  • No prior experience is required – all training will be provided via Zoom throughout the election cycle. 

This election season is one of the most significant in recent history, and your involvement is crucial. Sign up to volunteer here! After registering, you’ll have access to on-demand training and a community of dedicated leaders ready to assist every step of the way.

For additional resources, including volunteer opportunities and voting information, visit NAPABA’s 2024 Voting Hub.

Thank you for your commitment to empowering the AANHPI community. Your voice and leadership help shape a more inclusive, informed future. Let’s make this final week count.

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IP Committee Hosts Dinner at Charoen Krung

On July 22, the IP Committee met for a tasty Thai dinner at Charoen Krung in Manhattan.  Attendees enjoyed a wide variety of classic Thai dishes.  The dinner welcomed many new faces into the community, from law students to interns, to experienced private practice and in-house attorneys.  Attendees shared about how they were spending their summers, as well as about projects they were tackling at work.  The dinner ended with delicious Thai desserts including mango sticky rice.     

Thank you to everyone who joined!  The IP Committee always welcomes new members to its events!

To learn more about the IP Committee and how you can get involved, go here.

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AABANY’s Trusts & Estates Committee Co-Hosts Two-Day Guardian ad Litem Training at New York City Bar Association

The Trusts & Estates Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) recently co-hosted a two-day Guardian ad Litem (GAL) training program at the New York City Bar Association. This highly successful event aimed to attract and certify more minority attorneys to serve as GALs, who represent the best interests of children in legal proceedings. Held in person on September 30 and October 1, 2024, from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM, the comprehensive training followed the Part 36 stipulations of New York State’s Unified Court System. It provided participating attorneys with the essential skills and certification needed to fulfill their roles as GALs in the courts.

In addition to AABANY, the training was co-sponsored by the Caribbean Attorneys Network, Dominican Bar Association, Haitian American Lawyers Association of New York, Jewish Lawyers Guild, Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York (KALAGNY), LGBT Bar NY (LeGaL), Metropolitan Black Bar Association, New York Women’s Bar Association, South Asian and Indo-Caribbean Bar Association of Queens, Suffolk County Bar Association, and Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association. This collaboration showed the collective commitment to providing equitable opportunities for minority attorneys in New York’s legal system.

The program was led by a respected panel of surrogates, court attorneys, experienced trusts, and estates attorneys. Participants received detailed instruction on the GAL appointment process, ethical considerations, administration and probate proceedings, SCPA 17-A guardianship, kinship hearings, accounting proceedings, and the role of GALs in Supreme Court and other courts. The training materials included outlines and sample GAL reports to prepare attendees for future assignments.

Participants appreciated the accessibility of the training, which was offered at a fraction of the usual cost. Co-sponsoring organization members were charged $99, which is significantly lower than typical CLE rates for similar training programs and usually scheduled during work hours. The CLE achieved its objective of greater minority representation among Guardians ad Litem, an important and impactful step toward diversity in the legal profession. 

With over 60 participants, the event successfully created a more inclusive and diverse group of certified GALs. The feedback from attendees and faculty was overwhelmingly positive, with many noting that they had never seen a program with such extensive participation from court professionals, including seven surrogates addressing the ethical components. Surrogate Rita Mella and the Trusts & Estates Committee achieved their goal, providing minority attorneys a crucial step toward greater diversity of professionals serving in New York’s legal system.

Thanks to the Trusts & Estates Committee for organizing this important and impactful program aimed at advancing diversity and inclusion in the Surrogates’ Courts of New York. To learn more about the Trusts & Estates Committee and how you can get involved, go here.

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Thank You to Our Volunteers at the October 2nd Pro Bono Clinic in Flushing, Queens!

On Wednesday, October 2nd, AABANY members had the opportunity to volunteer at the AABANY Queens Pro Bono Clinic hosted by the Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) Community Center in Flushing. The clinic brought together AABANY’s Pro Bono & Community Service (PBCS) Committee along with a team of dedicated volunteers to offer free legal consultations to community members facing pressing legal challenges. The volunteers met with 19 clients addressing a variety of issues including housing, divorce, and immigration law. These are the kinds of problems that weigh heavily on people’s lives, both financially and emotionally.

The clinic had a vibrant atmosphere of support and collaboration. Each client was paired with an attorney who took the time to provide thoughtful advice on their specific legal concerns. Shadowers observed the attorneys, eagerly taking notes and learning from real-world interactions. Interpreters fluent in Cantonese or Mandarin were also on hand, ensuring that language barriers didn’t hinder effective communication between clients and their attorneys. This collaborative effort made the clinic a true reflection of community engagement and empowerment.

These interactions went far beyond simple legal advice. Each conversation was a reminder that this clinic isn’t just about solving legal matters—it’s about giving people the power to reclaim control over situations that often feel overwhelming. For many clients, it was the first time they realized they weren’t alone, and that there were resources and options available. A consultation could shift the entire course of someone’s life, offering not just answers, but hope.

Clients expressed their gratitude with comments like, “Thank you very much to the clinic and lawyer Gary Yeung for their help,” and “I appreciate your effort.” These heartfelt messages show the impact of the clinic and the commitment of everyone involved in making it a success.

Thank you again to the following volunteers:

Volunteer attorneys

  • Beatrice Leong
  • Gary Yeung
  • Lina Lee
  • May Wong
  • Richard In
  • Shirley Luong

Interpreters & Shadowers

  • Jaymark Hawlader
  • Xuxia Zhao
  • Eugene Seong

If you’re interested in making a difference in the community through future Pro Bono clinics, we invite you to join us at the following upcoming events: 

November 9, 2024 [Brooklyn link here], from 12:00 – 3:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232

December 4, 2024, from 6:00 – 8:30pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355

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