Professor Eun-Ok Im, Ph.D., MPH, RN, CNS, FAAN, and her colleagues at the University of Texas at Austin are conducting a research study on “Cancer Pain Management: A Technology-based Intervention for Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors.”
Currently, the team is in the process of recruiting participants to enroll in the study. They are looking for Asian American women aged 18 years and older who has had a breast cancer diagnosis in the past; can read and write English, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, or Japanese; has access to the Internet; and identifies their sub-ethnicity as Chinese, Korean, or Japanese.
Eligible participants who agree to join the study will be randomly assigned to two groups using the educational information or the online forum and 1:1 coaching/support program for three months. Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire three times. Each participant will receive $ 50 reimbursement after each questionnaire. Thus, each participant can get up to $150 reimbursement upon completing the program.
For any questions, please contact the email address provided in the flyer. Please see below for translated flyers in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.
With the end of the holiday season and the start of a New Year, we want to give our gratitude and admiration for all the working parents in the legal professions who balance their demanding schedule at work and at home.
On November 12, 2024, the Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee hosted the “Mothers-in-(Practicing) Law” Panel, which was moderated by Yen-Yi Anderson, Co-Chair of Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee and Managing Principal at Anderson & Associates Law P.C., and invited speakers: Hon. Lillian Wan, Associate Justice of Appellate Division, Second Department; Ada Wang, IP Litigation & Antitrust Senior Associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati; Michelle Li, Director at Perella Weinberg Partners, and Megan Rha, Partner at Rha Kim Grossman & McIlwain LLP. The engaging discourse allowed panelists and the audience to discuss the challenges of a demanding legal profession for women and the added responsibilities of child-rearing.
The burden of child-rearing affects working parents in the legal profession emotionally, mentally, and physically. To follow up, on November 13, 2024, the Professional Development Committee hosted the “Fathers-in-(Practicing) Law” Panel with moderator Willow Liu, Esq, and featured speakers Benjamin Hsing, AABANY’s President-Elect and Partner at Venable, LLP., and Kwok Ng, Co-Chair of the Pro Bono & Community Services Committee and Associate Court Attorney in NYC Civil Court. The speakers talked about how legal employers viewed paternity leave in the past versus now, how paid family leave creates equity for both mothers and fathers to care for newborns, and how to set life balance needs and boundaries to protect their family time.
Being a lawyer is already an incredibly challenging profession, and adding the responsibility of parenting requires extraordinary strength, endurance, and time management. To excel both in legal careers and as loving parents, our speakers emphasized being tolerant (remember to breathe, and it’s ok even when it’s not ok), practicing self-care, such as getting adequate rest (if possible) and taking walks, and working as a team with your work colleagues, family, and significant other. In the end, all can agree that family comes first!
To working parents in the legal profession, don’t be too harsh on yourselves. You are not alone! Please consider joining the Parents Committee (in formation) to share parenting advice. For more information about that Committee email us at [email protected].
Each year on May 1st, the United States observes Law Day in celebration of our legal system and the freedoms we enjoy. This year, the Office for Justice Initiatives and the Historical Society of New York Courts invite high school students in New York State to participate in an art contest inspired by this year’s American Bar Association’s Law Day theme The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One.
All submissions must be received by February 25, 2025. The winner will be announced on May 1, 2025. For more information, including rules and how to enter, please click here.
The 2024 NAPABA Convention in Seattle was a record-breaking event—over 3,400 attendees and 1,100 first-timers! Ours was the largest gathering of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) lawyers ever and remains cause for celebration and an achievement that will inspire us as we head into 2025.
During Convention, NAPABA members came together to connect, learn, grow, and celebrate the strength of our vibrant AANHPI community. Your presence, engagement, and enthusiasm were truly inspiring and left a lasting impact.
2025 is right around the corner, and we want to kick off the new year on the right note! If you haven’t already, RSVP to one of our January 2025 Meet & Greets. These events offer a great opportunity to network and build valuable connections within the dynamic NAPABA community. Walk-ins aren’t permitted so make sure you save your spot now!
January 9 | 5:00 – 6:30 pm Denver, CO RSVP by January 7
January 31 | 5:00 – 6:30 pm Phoenix, AZ RSVP by January 29
On Monday, December 16, 2024, AABANY’s Women’s Committee hosted the “Building Your Own House: Balthazar Breakfast with Jennifer Wu” at Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP. The event featured a delicious spread of pastries from Balthazar, along with seared tuna steak salad, fresh fruit, and both cold and hot beverages.
The conversation was moderated by Aileen Huang and Ananya Pillutla, associates at Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP. Jennifer shared her journey from her early years as an associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP to her time at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, where she was elected partner. In her next chapter, Jennifer launched her own firm — creating her own “house” — where the firm’s partnership is 50% women.
One of the key moments of the discussion was when Jennifer compared Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to a dance party: “Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is dancing with you; and equity is playing your music.” For Jennifer, building her own house was about playing her own music.
Jennifer also shared her personal philosophy of not overplanning and letting life unfold naturally. When asked about her favorite karaoke song, she revealed that it’s not about perfection but about enjoying the experience. From her husband, she learned that the most fun comes not from delivering the perfect performance, but from the genuine passion and enjoyment of the music, regardless of skill.
The participants left the breakfast feeling more connected, supported, and inspired by Jennifer’s insights and authenticity.
Thanks to everyone who attended, and thanks to Jennifer and Groombridge, Wu for being such gracious hosts. To learn more about the Women’s Committee and how you can get involved, please click here.
On Friday, December 6, 2024, AABANY hosted its Annual Holiday Party at Sugar Mouse, a social club located in the East Village. Registration reached capacity within just a few weeks of opening, a clear indication of AABANY members’ excitement for this event. In total, the party had over 70 attendees, arriving as early as 6:30pm and staying well into the night.
Participants enjoyed an open bar as well as a variety of food, including burgers, pizza, and mozzarella sticks. Members networked with one another, discussing their backgrounds, careers, and professional experiences, reconnecting with old friends while also introducing themselves to new faces. Those not eating or networking enjoyed the venue’s pool, ping pong, and foosball tables.
Thank you to Steno for sponsoring and supporting this event.
During the night Beatrice Leong, Co-Chair of AABANY’s Pro Bono and Community Service Committee, thanked everyone for attending and asked them to donate to AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinic by pledging a desired amount via text or by scanning a QR code projected on the venue’s walls. AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinic has won a number of awards over the years, and meets once a month in Manhattan and on a bi-monthly basis in Queens and Brooklyn. Even though volunteers donate their time, running these clinic’s costs money and donations to support this initiatives are always welcome. If you are interested in donating to the Pro Bono Clinic you can still do so by clicking here.
We appreciate everyone who attended and made it such a lively and exciting experience. To view all the photos from this event, please click here.
We wish everyone a happy holiday season and hope to see you at upcoming events in the New Year!
On November 19, 2024, AABANY held its 2nd Annual Pre-Holiday Multi-Association Gathering, hosted at the New York City Bar Association in Midtown Manhattan. The event featured a potluck dinner as well as a CLE program, titled “Building a Strong Legal Well-Being Foundation for a Brighter Future.” The dinner was co-sponsored by 12 different associations, each bringing ethnic cuisine and assorted goods for all to enjoy.
Recognizing that the holidays can be challenging for many, for various reasons, the gathering aimed to create a supportive community across multiple associations, to share wellness resources before the holiday season. The event began with participants helping themselves to a wide variety of food options, ranging from noodles to fried chicken to salad. As attendees ate, the CLE program began, which focused on wellness and mental health resources for members of the legal community. The program featured three speakers:
Eileen Travis, Executive Director, NYC Lawyer Assistance Program of the NYC Bar Association
The CLE program was moderated by Karen Kim, Senior Counsel of QBE North America and AABANY’s Immediate Past President.
Eileen Travis began the discussion by emphasizing the prevalence of mental health and substance abuse issues within the legal profession, noting that attorneys were at an especially high risk because of their extensive work in “adversarial environments.” According to the American Bar Association, 19% of lawyers experience depression at some point in their career, while 11% experience suicidal ideation. Despite these numbers, Eileen noted that the “legal profession as a group is reluctant to ask for help… the number one reason is the stigma surrounding it.” Though Eileen believed that this stigma has significantly decreased in recent years, she asserted that there is still much more work to be done. For any attorneys facing mental health or substance abuse issues, Eileen suggested they reach out to the Lawyer Assistance Program, whose services are free and completely confidential.
Katherine Loanzon continued the timely dialogue by describing her role as a parent when her two daughters each lost close friends. When a close friend of Katherine’s first daughter committed suicide, she did not know what to do. She wondered, “What do you do? What happens now?” At the time, she had struggled with these questions but eventually learned that it was best to “give children their space” as well as connect them with a therapist. Katherine then recounted how her second daughter experienced a similarly traumatic experience when a classmate of hers suddenly passed from an undiagnosed brain tumor. She described the event as a “different type of pain,” and noted that “everyone grieves differently” and that every individual must be supported through that process, in whatever way that looks. For Katherine’s daughter, she used music to help overcome her grief. Katherine shared resources to find therapists for children, which can be challenging.
Finally, Micah Kessel shared his experience as the CEO of Empathable, a company focused on disseminating the practice of empathy. Micah related empathy specifically to the legal field, saying that he “works to help people relive their most important moments” so that they can learn from these experiences and progress in their professions. Through this work, Micah has sought to redefine empathy, noting that it does not mean “the ability to understand how other people feel,” as the dictionary states. Rather, empathy is “the ability to acknowledge the validity of another person’s experience to be as valid as your own.” Empathy, he concluded, is a skill that must be trained over time.
Thanks to the following co-sponsoring associations for their support and participation in this event:
For more photos from the event, view the album here.
Thank you also to our event sponsors, Groombridge Wu Baughman & Stone and Edgar Agents, for their support in prioritizing the importance of wellness and well-being in the legal profession. We appreciate everyone who attended this event and made it such an amazing experience! With events such as these, AABANY will continue to work to help destigmatize mental health and advance the importance of wellness and well-being in the legal profession. If you have ideas for programs or speakers on the topic of wellness and well-being, please contact AABANY at [email protected]. We hope to see you at future AABANY events.
On Monday, November 4, AABANY’s Intellectual Property Committee hosted a Virtual Reality Gaming event at Tidal Force VR, a small tech startup located in the Flatiron District of Manhattan.
While some attendees had prior experience with VR, others did not. Participants played in two games: the first was a space-themed game, where they had to defend against a siege of alien invaders. The second game was a three-versus-three team event, in which the attendees split up and faced off against one another.
Overall, the event was a lively and enjoyable experience for everyone, and attendees were able to learn about and experience VR firsthand while also connecting with one another. The IP Committee is always looking for new and exciting ways for members to develop relationships. Look out for more fun IP Committee events in the new year!
Thanks to the IP Committee for hosting this event, as well as everyone who was in attendance. To learn more about the IP Committee, please click here.
Presiding Justice Hector D. LaSalle takes great pleasure in announcing that on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, oral arguments at the Appellate Division, Second Department will be heard for the first time by a panel of Justices including two Asian-American jurists. Associate Justices Lillian Wan and Phillip Hom will join Justices Mark C. Dillon and Robert J. Miller for this historic session.
Justice Wan was designated as an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department, from her seat as a Justice of the Supreme Court, Kings County, by Governor Kathy Hochul on May 25, 2022. Justice Hom was designated as an Associate Justice of the Court from his seat as a Justice of the Supreme Court, Queens County, by Governor Hochul on August 14, 2024.
For those who wish to remotely view the proceedings before the Court on December 10, 2024, they will be live-streamed and may be accessed by clicking on the “Oral Argument Live” link on the Court’s homepage, or by clicking here: https://cmi.nycourts.gov/ad2/ad2.php.
