Two premier ABA leadership development opportunities are now open for registration and applications! NAPABA members are encouraged to take advantage of these programs, consistently recognized for cultivating dynamic and effective bar leaders. Early-bird registration is available for both initiatives.
Bar Leadership Institute (BLI)
Chicago, IL | March 11–13, 2026
Designed for incoming bar leaders and presidents-elect, BLI offers training on governance, strategic planning, and bar leadership fundamentals.
A joint initiative of NAPABA and national affinity bar partners, CBLA is an immersive leadership academy for attorneys dedicated to bar service and community impact.
These programs provide unmatched professional development, peer networking, and pathways to strengthen leadership within the legal profession. NAPABA encourages interested members to review eligibility details and submit applications early.
The American Arbitration Association® (AAA®) is now accepting applications for the 2026 A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. Fellows Program.
The Higginbotham Fellows Program is a one-year professional development experience designed to support emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds and perspectives in the field of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Fellows engage in training, mentorship, and connection with experienced ADR practitioners, including a five-day in-person program in New York during the week of May 4, 2026.
The Program is open to lawyers, arbitrators, mediators, and other ADR practitioners who demonstrate interest in the field.
On December 9, AABANY hosted the final Dumplings & Discussion fireside chat of the year, featuring Alan Chang, Senior Vice President & General Counsel of the New York Yankees. Over a wide selection of dumplings and other bites, Alan generously shared his career journey, offered candid insights into the sports industry, and gave practical advice for junior lawyers navigating their own paths. Thank you to the audience for their thoughtful questions and lively engagement, which made the discussion dynamic and meaningful. Attendees continued networking and exchanging ideas well into the night during the post-chat reception.
We are grateful to all of the incredible speakers of 2025 who helped the Dumplings & Discussion series continue to be a welcoming forum for sharing stories and candid dialogue:
Alan Chang, New York Yankees
Michelle Lee, MediaCo
Christopher Chan, JLL Technologies
Sonia Low, Javits Center
Liz Nie, Acorns
Stephen Mar, Odeko
Osamu Watanabe, Moelis
Thank you to each of these leaders for inspiring our community and contributing to meaningful conversations throughout the year.
We’re excited to keep the momentum going in 2026 with more opportunities to connect, learn, and—of course—enjoy dumplings together. Stay tuned for announcements on future Dumplings & Discussion fireside chats.
See here to read about past Dumplings & Discussion chats.
— Written by Jeffrey Mok, AABANY Board Director and Co-Chair of AABANY’s Intellectual Property Committee
The recent fireside chat featuring SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda, moderated by AABANY member and Bath & Body Works Chief Legal Officer Michael Wu, was reported on by Alyssa Aquino in a December 5, 2025 article in the New York Law Journal titled “SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda Reflects on Career in Fireside Chat.”
The event, which was organized by AABANY’s In-House Counsel Committee, took place on the evening of December 4th at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom’s New York City office. Commissioner Uyeda, the first Asian-Pacific American to serve as an SEC Commissioner, shared insights into his career and offered valuable advice to the young professionals in attendance.
The article highlighted key takeaways from the conversation, including Commissioner Uyeda’s counsel on the necessity of gaining managerial experience throughout one’s career and the importance for capital markets attorneys to understand accounting. Uyeda, who began his tenure at the agency in 2006 as counsel to then-Commissioner Paul Atkins, humorously noted that even after 20 years since they first met, they are “still doing the same thing.”
To read the full article on Law.com, please click here. (Subscription required)
AABANY Student Outreach Committee Chair Albert Tong, who is also the Co-Director for the Northeast Region of the National Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (NAPALSA), was featured in a December 9, 2025, Brooklyn Law School News article. The article, titled “Albert Tong ’27 Finds Networking, Community as Regional Co-Director of NAPALSA,” discusses his attendance at the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Convention in November and his role with NAPALSA.
The piece highlights Albert’s positive experiences with NAPABA, the AABANY Trial Reenactments, and his own involvement in NAPABA’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring Committee.
Two Opportunities to Support Your Journey to a Legal Career
2026 SAIL Scholarship Deadline to Apply: June 30, 2026
The NAPABA Law Foundation is now accepting applications for the distinguished SAIL Scholarship Program—a rare, career-shaping opportunity created to uplift and empower the next generation of leaders in the legal profession.
The SAIL Scholarship offers far more than financial support. Selected scholars receive: – $7,500 in funding (distributed evenly across their 2L and 3L years) – One-on-one mentorship from seasoned legal professionals – Exclusive access to executive-level networking and leadership opportunities
Who Should Apply?
Current 1L students (rising 2Ls in Fall 2026) who demonstrate:
Strong academic achievement (undergraduate and 1L performance)
Leadership potential and a commitment to “paying it forward”
Volunteer or public service experience
Knowledge of or dedication to advancing AAPI communities
This program provides sustained support throughout law school — financially, professionally, and personally — helping recipients build a foundation for a career rooted in leadership, service, and impact.
If you know an exceptional first-year law student, please encourage them to apply.
Students: Be sure to review the SAIL Scholarship FAQ to confirm eligibility and expectations before submitting your materials.
Let the SAIL Scholarship help launch your path toward meaningful change in the legal field. To apply, click this link.
2026 NAPABA Judicial Council Summer Internships Deadline to Apply: January 15, 2026
We are pleased to announce that the NAPABA Judicial Council is offering three prestigious summer internship opportunities with distinguished federal judges for Summer 2026. Each selected intern will also receive a $1,500 scholarship stipend to support their experience.
These internships provide invaluable exposure to federal judicial work, insights into the court system, and the opportunity to learn directly from leaders in the judiciary. Each full-time internship will last approximately 4-10 weeks, with dates and times to be arranged between each intern and judge.
The University of Austin School of Nursing is sharing information about their NIH-funded study with our community. Under the guidance of Dr. Eun-Ok Im and Dr. Wonshik Chee, their team is conducting an NIH-funded study focused on providing culturally tailored online support for Asian American breast cancer survivors (IRB-approved, Study ID: STUDY00004807).
They are hoping to reach more survivors who might benefit from this free program, which includes bilingual nurse sessions (Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, or English), culturally adapted health resources, a complimentary Fitbit, and up to $150 in compensation.
Please see the study flyers (in various languages below), and share with your networks. Even one share could make a meaningful difference for someone in need.
This year’s AABANY Annual Holiday Party took place on Friday, December 5, 2025, at Upon The Palace, a premier Asian Fusion restaurant in Tribeca, New York. It was a fun night for everyone who attended and a perfect way to connect during the holiday season.
Tucked away in the downstairs party room of the restaurant, the space was well-liked by AABANY members as a private setting to connect and enjoy the evening. This location, which some members recalled visiting after the Fall Conference in September, is likely to become a favored spot for future AABANY gatherings.
The event quickly reached capacity, with registration filling up in under two weeks and a continuous waitlist right up to the day of the party, demonstrating the high level of enthusiasm among AABANY members for this annual gathering. More than 90 attendees enjoyed the festivities, with many arriving before the 6:00 pm start and staying late into the evening.
Guests enjoyed an open bar alongside a spectacular Chinese buffet that was continually refreshed. The delicious food offerings included Shanghai vegetable spring rolls, spicy garlic cucumber salad, pan-fried pork dumplings, crispy chicken wings, “magic” chili chicken, stir fried noodles with vegetable, sauteed mixed vegetables, sweet & sour pork, stir fried beef & broccoli, and egg & scallion fried rice, rounded out with plates of seasonal fruit. The variety and quality of the dishes were a hit, as evidenced by the long line of attendees going back for second and third servings. Some attendees piled their plates high, indicating either large appetites or reluctance to get back on line for seconds.
Beyond the food, members had the opportunity to network, reconnecting with old friends while developing new connections. The evening was lively with conversations about professional backgrounds, careers, and shared experiences. Karaoke was a highlight, with many members enthusiastically taking the stage to sing in various languages.
We are grateful to everyone who attended and made the event so vibrant and memorable. This annual tradition remains free to members, as a way for AABANY to thank our members for their dedication and involvement in the wide variety of social, educational, pro bono and advocacy programs, initiatives and activities throughout the year.
To see all the photos from the evening, please click here.
We wish you all a very happy holiday season and look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events in the New Year!
At the clinic, our volunteers met with 16 clients and provided guidance on a range of legal issues, including housing, immigration, employment and sexual discrimination, and civil litigation matters. Your collective efforts ensured that each client received personalized support and answers to their pressing legal questions.
A big thank you to our guest speaker, Vishal Chander, for successfully presenting the second and final part of the two-part series training, “Immigration Basics for Pro Bono Clinic Lawyers.” This training was extremely valuable, giving attendees the key practice information they need, such as what to expect in an immigration proceeding and the different types of relief available in Immigration Court. Vishal’s presentation was insightful and useful, and we especially appreciate that he stuck around to answer the more complex questions, offering extra help to our community members and clients.
AABANY’s Fall 2025 Legal Intern, Jessie Zhou, volunteered at this Clinic and offered this reflection: “At the Queens Pro Bono Clinic, I witnessed two housing cases that revealed both the urgency of our work and the deep structural barriers that so many community members face. One involved an elderly couple who had fallen behind on rent but were terrified of the prospect of entering shelters or leaving Flushing, the only neighborhood where they felt linguistically and culturally safe. The other was a woman hoping to sue her former landlord for chronic noise disturbances that had caused significant distress and health issues, even though the events had taken place over a year ago. Both clients spoke little to no English, and despite the genuine hardship underlying each situation, the legal options available to them were severely limited. The attorneys walked them through their choices carefully and compassionately, yet the clients remained frustrated, continuing to voice anger and disappointment. It was hard not to feel the weight of their helplessness.”
“Moments like these remind me that many people come to Pro Bono Clinics not only for legal remedies, but for acknowledgment,” Jessie added. “Many people just want to feel heard, someone to listen, to affirm that what they endured matters. Their frustration is understandable; they are navigating a system that is complex, unforgiving, and shaped by structural inequities. In a society built on capitalist priorities, where the most vulnerable often fall through the cracks, our mission seems ever more important, and the Pro Bono Clinics become one of the few accessible spaces where marginalized individuals can be heard. Even when the law offers little recourse, showing up with patience, empathy, and respect remains an indispensable form of advocacy. The AABANY volunteers at the Queens Pro Bono Clinic strive to make others feel heard even when they can be misunderstood by their clients.”
We are deeply grateful for everyone’s presence and contributions, and look forward to continuing this important work together!
Volunteer attorneys:
Vishal Chander
Ivy (Ting-Yu) Chien
Richard In
Beatrice Leong
Jie Shi
Lord Chester So
Anthony Wong
May Wong
Gary Yeung
Meng Zhang
Interpreters/shadowers:
Nandar Win Kerr
Nikita Kohli
Grace Ouyang
Wendy Zeng
Jessie Zhou
We invite you to continue supporting our community by joining us at our upcoming Pro Bono Clinics:
December 17th [Manhattan linkhere] from 6:30-8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
January 10th [Brooklyn linkhere], from 12:30 – 3:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
February 4th [Queens linkhere], from 6:30 – 8:30pm, AAFE One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
Thanks to all our volunteers for attending the Pro Bono Clinic. We look forward to your participation in our future clinics! To learn more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, visit probono.aabany.org.
On November 25, 2025, AABANY’s Prosecutors and Student Outreach Committees joined the National Asian Pacific Islander Prosecutors Association (NAPIPA) to host an event called “Pathways to Careers in Government & Justice” at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office. The hybrid program, available in person and via Zoom, brought together law students, early-career professionals, and seasoned public servants for a wide-ranging discussion about what it means to build a career — and answer a calling — within the criminal justice system.
The event opened with a warm welcome and participants enjoyed a delicious spread of food, featuring dumplings, fried rice, chicken wings, and noodles. The event then quickly moved into a dynamic panel conversation featuring prosecutors, judges, court attorneys, and representatives from major government agencies. Each speaker traced their path into public service, revealing how mentorship, curiosity, and unexpected opportunities shaped their careers. The following judges were also in the audience: Hon. Phyllis Chu, Hon. Danny Chun, Hon. Marilyn Go (Ret.), and Hon. Don Leo.
Panelist Hon. Frances Wang (Queens Supreme Court, Criminal Term) described a childhood spent moving across Taiwan, Singapore, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and finally the United States. Adjusting to new cultures, learning English, and navigating unfamiliar schools, she found herself in a third-grade classroom where a teacher told her, “You ask a lot of questions. I think you’d make a good lawyer.” She had never heard the word lawyer before, but the encouragement stayed with her. Years later, that early spark grew into internships, mock trial competitions, prosecutorial work, and eventually a judgeship.
Her story echoed a theme that ran throughout the night: the profound and often quiet influence of mentors (teachers, supervisors, judges) who saw potential long before the speaker did. Many panelists noted that their career trajectories were not linear. They relied on mentors to clarify possibilities they did not know existed, whether in appellate litigation, regulatory enforcement, oversight and investigation, or judicial work.
William Wang (Assistant Attorney General, New York Attorney General’s Office) and Stephanie Pak (Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York) and Yi Liu (Senior Counsel, New York City Law Department) offered clear, accessible explanations of their bureaus and divisions, from affirmative litigation to labor and employment matters, and gave students a rare inside look at where public-sector lawyers can make a difference. Phil Hung (Deputy Commissioner, Department of Investigation) described DOI as “the city’s watchdog,” explaining how the agency investigates fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption across virtually every city entity. For many students, it was the first time seeing how interconnected the city’s justice and accountability systems truly are.
Stephanie Quon (Principle Court Attorney, Brooklyn Supreme Court – Criminal Term) described roles that receive less public visibility but are essential to making the courts and prosecutors’ offices function. She explained the intellectual rigor and responsibility that come with drafting decisions, researching complex legal issues, and supporting judges in high-stakes cases ranging from violent felonies to gang conspiracy, fraud, and bias-motivated crimes.
Grace Vee (Assistant District Attorney, Manhattan District Attorney’s Office) shared her journey to becoming an Assistant District Attorney, which started from a brief externship at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office while she was still in college. What began as a two-week externship quickly became a defining experience. She spoke about how impressed she was by the dedication of the prosecutors, the sense of mission in the office, and the profound public service component of the work.
That early exposure stayed with her. She went on to law school, determined to return to the Manhattan DA’s Office, and she did. Grace became an Assistant District Attorney and remained in the role for 30 years (just recently celebrating her 30th anniversary at the Manhattan DA’s Office), building a long, distinguished career grounded in community protection, ethical prosecution, and public trust. Her story demonstrated that the spark of public service can begin early, but its longevity is sustained by commitment, discipline, and a deep belief in the work. During Grace’s description of her journey, she thanked Judge Marilyn Go, also in attendance in the audience, as her mentor and role model. This moment was especially moving, showing how mentorship has passed on and created a lasting legacy of service within the legal community.
Grace’s narrative resonated particularly strongly with students, showing how a single moment — an externship, a mentor’s encouragement, a first exposure to courtroom advocacy — can set the foundation for a meaningful career.
Across all these narratives, one message stood out: there is no single path into public service, but every path requires integrity, courage, and a willingness to step forward.
As the conversation deepened, several speakers reflected on the unique role of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) attorneys in public-sector positions. They underscored that representation matters not only for visibility, but for trust. Many communities remain fearful or skeptical of government institutions; seeing people with shared histories and cultural understanding in these roles can make the legal system feel more accessible. Public-sector lawyers often become bridges between communities and the courts, between fear and understanding, between wrongdoing and accountability.
The panelists’ honesty about the pressures of the work, whether in sentencing decisions, overseeing investigations, or handling trauma-heavy prosecutions, imbued the discussion with realism and deep humanity. Their candor also reaffirmed that commitment to public service, despite its difficulty, remains a powerful way to shape the world with purpose.
A Visit from Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez: A Call to Serve
Midway through the evening, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez stopped by to offer words that many attendees described as especially moving. He spoke frankly about the critical need for representation in public service, drawing on his own background as a Latino community member and prosecutor.
He emphasized that the justice system needs attorneys who reflect the diverse communities of New York, especially in moments of heightened distrust. “People are really afraid of government,” he said, noting that this fear is prevalent across Asian, Latino, Caribbean, and Black communities. DA Gonzalez emphasized that increased representation and participation of more minority community members would help address this issue.
DA Gonzalez stressed that losing talented young lawyers to the private sector would have consequences far beyond the walls of a single office. The public, he reminded everyone, depends on committed public servants who can build trust and foster accountability. His message was both caution and encouragement: stay, serve, and know that your presence matters.
Thank You to the Prosecutors Committee, Student Outreach Committee, Panelists, and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office.
What distinguished this event was the sincerity running through every story, every piece of advice, and every reflection. The speakers did not simply outline career paths; they opened windows into the human experience of being a public servant. They spoke about challenges and doubts, but also about the moments that reaffirmed why they chose this work.
Hearing about the speakers’ individual stories made students and attendees realize that they could do it too, and witnessing their dedication, passion, and commitment to their jobs firsthand was definitely impactful. During the networking hour that followed, attendees lingered to ask questions, seek mentorship, and connect with speakers. It was clear that the event created not only opportunities, but possibilities.
AABANY extends its deepest gratitude to the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, NAPIPA, DA Eric Gonzalez, the moderators, panelists, and all attendees. Pathways to Careers in Government & Justice illuminated the rich landscape of public-sector careers and reminded aspiring attorneys why representation, integrity, and service matter.
We look forward to continuing programs that uplift emerging leaders and strengthen the pipeline of dedicated AAPI public servants across New York.
To learn more about the Prosecutors Committee at AABANY, click here.
To learn more about the Student Outreach Committee at AABANY, click here.
