Author: Margaret Langston

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NAPABA Mourns the Passing of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

For Immediate Release: 
Date: December 1, 2023 		Contact: Rahat N. Babar, Deputy Executive Director for Policy 

WASHINGTON – The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) mourns the passing of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, a trailblazer in our Nation and the first woman on the Supreme Court of the United States.

“For a generation, Justice O’Connor blazed the trail for those who thought that the highest pinnacle of the legal profession was unattainable,” said Anna Mercado Clark, President of NAPABA. “She proved that not only was it possible, but inevitable. During her tenure on the Court, she addressed the Nation’s most difficult issues and strived for consensus—a hallmark of her career both before and during her time on the Court. Even during her retirement, Justice O’Connor devoted her time to service and championed the cause of civic education—a cause that goes to the core of our democracy. On behalf of the entire NAPABA community, we send our heartfelt condolences to her family.”

Despite graduating near the top of her class at Stanford Law School, Justice O’Connor struggled to find a role within the profession and was initially offered a secretarial position. Steadily through the course of her life, she demonstrated the tenacity that led to her success. She started her legal career in public service in California and later in Arizona. She served in the Arizona Senate, becoming the first woman to ever serve as Majority Leader. Justice O’Connor then served on the Maricopa County Superior Court in 1974, ultimately being elevated to the Arizona Court of Appeals in 1979. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan nominated Justice O’Connor for the Supreme Court, and the United States Senate confirmed her nomination with a vote of 99-0. She retired from the Court in 2006.

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Anise Health RestorAsian Scholarship

With the holiday season fast approaching, Anise Health wants to do our part to give back! We are launching the RestorAsian Scholarship will be awarded to 25 applicants to cover the first month (4 sessions) of weekly care for free for Asian adults to experience Anise’s innovative care model of integrated therapy, coaching, and curated digital resources. This limited time offer ends on November 30.

How do I apply?

Applying is easy! Follow these two simple steps: 

  1. Submit Anise Health’s intake form as soon as possible (only takes a ~5 minutes)*
  2. Select the  “RestorAsian Scholarship” from the drop-down options when asked “How did you hear about us?” at the end.

*We are currently only able to consider eligible first-time applicants (ages 18+) residing in CA or NY for the scholarship.

That’s it! Anise Health will randomly select winners each week, and you will be informed within one week of completing your intake form. In the meantime, we encourage you to schedule a free trial with your recommended providers. 

If you aren’t selected- don’t worry! We will still be offering exclusive incentives to eligible individuals who apply for the scholarship to help improve access to effective mental health care.

What does Anise Health offer if I win the scholarship?

You’ll get access to a unique mental health platform with several valuable benefits:

  • A rockstar team of diverse providers who are trained to understand and address stressors that impact Asian young adults, such as bicultural tension, perfectionism, discrimination, and intergenerational trauma. 
  • Evidence-based care model that integrates therapy and coaching, which means you’ll get both a therapist and a coach! They work together to personalize your care plan and treatment journey.
  • Technology-enabled experience with an easy-to-use interface and extensive digital resource library which curates topics specific to your unique experience.
  • Accessible support where you’re guaranteed to be matched to a provider within 2 business days. No more waiting for months for appointments!

We invite you to join us in this endeavor through the following actions:

Share this announcement with your email listservs
Like, comment, and/or share on your Instagram and LinkedIn

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AABANY Membership Committee Hosts Second Annual Oyster Happy Hour on September 7

On Thursday, September 7, 2023, students and practitioners alike attended the AABANY Oyster Happy Hour at Sagaponack NYC. Nearly thirty folks attended for a night of oysters, bar bites, and networking. The Membership Committee annually hosts this Oyster Happy Hour at Sagaponack NYC and, this year, strategically partnered with the Student Outreach and Young Lawyers Committees to give law students an opportunity to network with practitioners as they kicked off their fall semesters. Thank you to everyone who attended and to our co-sponsoring committees including the Military & Veteran Affairs Committee. And a special thanks to the folks at Sagaponack NYC for the great food and service as always. If you have any ideas for fun AABANY membership events, please email ChristopherSBae@gmail.com. 

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NAPABA Presents: Our Democracy: Then and Now – The 40th Anniversary of the Coram Nobis Cases

The Fred T. Korematsu Institute is hosting a celebration honoring the 40th anniversary of the coram nobis cases on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in San Francisco. Our Democracy: Then and Now, is an in-person dinner commemorating a momentous decision in civil rights history.

The dinner will welcome members of the 1983 coram nobis teams, as well as former Acting Solicitor General of the United States and MSNBC TV contributor, Neal Katyal, who will be the keynote speaker and recipient of the Fred Korematsu Social Justice Award. Local KTVU reporter and journalist Jana Katsuyama will host the celebration.

NAPABA is proud to be a Korematsu Champion Sponsor of the event and host of the VIP Reception.

Our Democracy: Then and Now
The 40th Anniversary of the Coram Nobis Cases
October 21, 2023

6 pm | VIP Sponsor Reception
7 pm | Dinner & Program

Marriott Marquis | San Francisco
780 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

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Thank You to Our Volunteers at the Brooklyn Pro Bono Clinic in August

On August 5th, 2023, AABANY held its Brooklyn Pro Bono Legal Clinic at the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) Brooklyn Community Services Center. The clinic met with 25 clients, coming in with questions about housing, immigration, and family law issues. Volunteer attorneys and interpreters patiently addressed client concerns, answering questions and connecting them to lawyers through AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS).

We thank the Pro Bono & Community Service (PBCS) Committee and the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) for organizing and hosting the event. Established in 1965, CPC is a social services organization dedicated to helping Asian American, immigrant, and economically disadvantaged communities within New York City to obtain equitable access to essential resources and opportunities, thus fostering Asian American success.

The next Pro Bono Clinic will be on September 6th, from 6:30pm – 8:30pm, and located at AAFE One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave 2nd Floor, Queens, NY 11355. You can sign up here to volunteer. To add the date and time for this clinic to your calendar, click here. For upcoming clinics, please check AABANY’s calendar and update your email preference in your account to receive our emails.

Thank you to our volunteers for supporting the clinic. Your time and dedication is essential for delivering crucial assistance to individuals seeking legal guidance. We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to:

Volunteer Attorneys:

Amber Lee
Ashley Shan
Gary Yeung
Kwok Kei Ng
May Wong

Interpreters and Observers:

I-Kai Lee
Jihyon Kim
Ruo Yang
Yini Lai

To learn more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, click here.

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Boost Your Career at the NAPABA Convention

Application Deadline: Friday, August 18 at 8:00 pm ET

If you are a senior associate or of counsel at a major law firm who is approaching consideration for partnership, the NAPABA Prospective Partners Program (PPP) is designed for you. PPP is hosted on Thursday, November 9 and Friday, November 10 during the 2023 NAPABA Convention and you are invited to apply for this exclusive program.

Here are the top four reasons to apply:

• Meet senior in-house counsel and general counsels.
• Fine tune your pitch and receive real-time feedback from decision-makers who hire attorneys.
• Network and form meaningful connections with similarly situated attorneys on the cusp of partnership.
• Gain mentorship from a partner at a different law firm and get a fresh perspective on your career trajectory.

Are you ready to boost your career? Apply for the PPP by 8:00 pm ET on Friday, August 18.

APPLY NOW

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Thank You to Our Volunteers at the May 17 Manhattan Pro Bono Clinic

On May 17, 2023, AABANY held its Manhattan Pro Bono Legal Clinic at the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Our volunteers met with 17 clients and discussed issues relating to housing, fraud, and government benefits. 

Some positive client responses: “I appreciate it so much.” “Good service. I will keep coming monthly.”

The Pro Bono Clinic is organized by AABANY’s Pro Bono & Community Service Committee. To learn more about the Committee’s work visit here. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated volunteers who made this Pro Bono Clinic a success:

Volunteer Attorneys:

  • Beatrice Leong
  • Francis Chin
  • Gary Yeung
  • Kwok Ng
  • Suzie Wang
  • May Wong
  • Nicholas Loh
  • Tiange Chen
  • Yaoyu (Jasmine) Liu
  • Yan Sin
  • Yuanyuan Li
  • Anna Wang
  • Yen-Yi Anderson

Interpreters & Shadowers:

  • I-Kai Lee
  • Jameson Xu
  • Justin Lee

Our next Clinic will be in Brooklyn on June 3, 2023, from 12:30pm – 3:30pm at Homecrest Community Services, Inc., 6915 15th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11228.

For upcoming clinics, please check AABANY’s calendar and update your email preference in your account to receive our emails. 

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AABANY Student Outreach Committee Presents: Balancing the Scales: Affirmative Action Panel

The AABANY Student Outreach Committee (SOC) hosted a thought-provoking panel discussion on April 13th, 2023 over Zoom, featuring renowned legal scholars Professor Thomas Healy and Professor Jin Hee Lee. The event was moderated by Jinny (Ji Yoon) Lim, a 2L at Seton Hall University School of Law.

Professor Healy, an acclaimed author and expert in constitutional law, legal history, civil rights, freedom of speech, and federal courts, shared his insights on the history of affirmative action and landmark Supreme Court cases, such as Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, Grutter v. Bollinger, Gratz v. Bollinger, and Fisher v. University of Texas. 

Professor Jin Hee Lee, the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Legal Defense Fund, provided valuable insights into the legal arguments presented by both SFFA and Harvard/UNC. She also addressed the controversies surrounding the two cases and offered her perspective on the personal rating (PR) scores used by Harvard and the potential consequences of outlawing race-conscious admissions policies.

The panel discussion was a captivating and thought-provoking event, shedding light on vital issues regarding civil rights and constitutional law, which are especially relevant and timely today. 

Thanks to the SOC for organizing this topical program and to the speakers for their participation. To learn more about the SOC, click here.

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Congratulations to Kathy Hirata Chin on Being Named to the City & State 2023 50 Over 50 List

On January 30, City & State published their 2023 power list of the 50 Over 50 in New York. As stated in the article:

The feature, which has become one of our most popular lists each year, recognizes the legacies of 50 accomplished individuals who are 50 or older. While many of our lists regularly track the rise and fall of politicians within different power structures, this annual undertaking has allowed us to take the longer view – and offer well-deserved accolades for leaders who have amassed a long list of accomplishments over the course of their entire careers. 

AABANY is pleased to announce that its longtime member Kathy Hirata Chin has been named one of City & State‘s 50 Over 50. See:

https://www.cityandstateny.com/power-lists/2023/01/2023-50-over-50/382192/#kathy-hirata-chin

Please join us in congratulating Kathy on this well-deserved honor and recognition. 

To see the full list, go to:

https://www.cityandstateny.com/power-lists/2023/01/2023-50-over-50/382192/

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IP Committee Hosts First “Dumplings & Discussion” Fireside Chat with Andy Yoo

On February 1, 2023, the IP Committee hosted its inaugural “Dumplings & Discussion” fireside chat series, with Andy Yoo, SVP & General Counsel at Savvas Learning Company as the guest. 

Over a sumptuous spread of dumplings and other Chinese dishes, Andy shared his insights on intellectual property in the education industry, reflected on his career path, discussed his responsibilities as General Counsel, and offered advice to young attorneys.   Andy also discussed how he leads his team, and his views on the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).  The attendees were made up of in-house counsel attorneys in private practice and law students, and represented a wide range of experience levels. 

Andy talked about his start at a prominent law firm and his move in-house to a media company. His next in-house move was to another media company that was also prominent in producing educational materials, and his current company focuses on those products. Andy enjoys the variety of challenging work he does as an in-house counsel and noted that nearly a third of his work involves IP, because the company manages a portfolio of hundreds of trademarks and thousands of copyrighted materials.

Andy has been deeply involved with DEI as an in-house counsel and reflected on changes in DEI over the past three decades. Compared to when he started as an associate to present day, he has observed a shift from the legal profession barely talking about DEI to robust efforts driven by the corporate sector to increase DEI across the board. The change, noted Andy, “is like night and day.” Yet, Andy recognizes that much still needs to be done and laments that during times of economic downturn, corporate DEI budgets tend to shrink, leading to cycles of advancement and retreat that make lasting progress hard to maintain.

After the in-depth discussion and lively Q&A that followed, attendees continued to enjoy drinks and food in a networking reception. 

Thanks to Jeff Mok, Co-Chair of the IP Committee for moderating an insightful conversation, and to Fish & Richardson for being such gracious hosts. Thanks to Andy Yoo for sharing his time, experiences and knowledge with us.

Look out for the next IP Committee “Dumplings & Discussion” fireside chat. To learn more about the IP Committee, go to https://www.aabany.org/page/145.

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